Pro-Israel groups told to back off

(JNS.org) The U.S. government is asking pro-Israel activists to reduce their public support for more sanctions on Iran just prior to another round of discussions on the issue between Iranian and world leaders. White House officials met with Jewish organizations including the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, the American Jewish Committee, and the Anti-Defamation League last Tuesday. 

According to the Washington Free Beacon, a pro-Israel official who attended the briefing said that the Obama administration does not "want the new [sanctions] to come out now."

Additionally, the lobby group J Street said that "moving forward with new sanctions now could severely undermine prospects for a diplomatic solution." The statement "could have been written by the White House itself," a source familiar with the meeting told the Washington Free Beacon.

Democrats in Congress have also drafted a bill designed to establish a panel to "review, assess, and make recommendations" regarding the prospect of increasing sanctions on Iran.