Trump should veto new Russia sanctions: Analyst

US President Donald Trump should veto the new Congressional sanctions against Russia and prevent the lawmakers from creating a “boogeyman” out of Moscow, says an American analyst.

Scott Bennett, a former US Army psychological warfare officer based in San Francisco, told Press TV on Sunday that the Trump administration had to block new sanctions against Russia and Iran to keep hopes alive for future cooperation.

The US Senate in Congress voted nearly unanimously on Thursday to impose new sanctions against Iran and Russia, setting up a possible confrontation with the Trump administration as it attempts to improve relations with Moscow.

The White House is concerned that the new sanctions are a hurdle to Trump’s attempts at getting Moscow to cooperate with Washington on several fronts, Politico reported Saturday, citing a senior administration official.

The Trump administration now hopes to convince House Republicans to tone down the sanctions and pave the way for a friendlier dialogue with Russia.

Bennett said Trump wanted to de-escalate tensions with Russia and that did not go well with the interests of those who benefited from “constant military tensions.”

“The Trump administration recognizes that this bill… is a very destructive thing,” the counter-terrorism expert argued. “It is very ignorant and it is really a psychological operation to manipulate the American public.”

Read More:

• US Senate passes new sanctions on Iran, Russia
• New sanctions to complicate US-Russia ties: Putin
• Trump pushing to tone down Russia sanctions

The sanctions came amid a controversial investigation into the seemingly pro-Kremlin US head of state’s possible “collusion” with Russia during the 2016 campaign and after his election victory over Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton.

Despite allegations by the US intelligence community that Moscow played a role in the presidential vote last November, Trump has supported improving relations with America’s former Cold War foe.

“The Trump administration recognizes there was never any Russian interference in any elections, there was no Russian hackings at all and the Senate and the House are simply responding by trying to create a false boogeyman mirage to deflect bad actions and the bad conduct in the Clinton Foundation, the Clinton campaign and the [former President Barack] Obama administration,” Bennett argued.

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson expressed concern in a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing this week about the new sanctions.

"I would urge Congress to ensure any legislation allows the president to have the flexibility to adjust sanctions," he told the panel.

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