US President Barack Obama told Congress on Friday there is no need to impose new sanctions against Iran Washington is “serious" about seeking a final nuclear agreement.

US President Barack Obama told Congress on Friday there is no need to impose new sanctions against Iran Washington is “serious" about seeking a final nuclear agreement.

"What I've said to members of Congress, Democrats and Republicans, there is no need for new sanctions legislation. Not yet," Obama told reporters during his year-end news conference at the White House on Friday.

The warning came one day after a group of bipartisan senators introduced new legislation to impose more sanctions against Iran despite a nuclear deal reached between Tehran and the world powers in Geneva last month.

On Thursday, 13 Democrats and 13 Republicans sponsored the new Senate bill.
Obama also called on Congress to give nuclear negotiations a chance to work.
"I'm not surprised there's been talk from members of Congress about new sanctions," the US president said.

"It's not going to be hard for us to turn the dials back, strengthen the sanctions even further. I'll work with members of Congress to put even more pressure on Iran," Obama added.

The White House announced that President Obama would veto a new Iran sanctions bill introduced in the Senate on Thursday.

“Passing new sanctions legislation now will undermine our efforts to achieve a peaceful resolution,” White House press secretary Jay Carney said.