Pars Equality Center, Public Affairs Alliance of Iranian Americans (PAAIA), National Iranian American Council (NIAC), and United for Iran were among the groups that signed the letter.

“This letter shows that Iranian Americans are coalescing in support of diplomacy and against broad sanctions that punish ordinary Iranians and pave the path to war,” said NIAC Policy Director Jamal Abdi.

"Our community believes diplomacy is the best way to end the US-Iran standoff and work on critical issues like advancing human rights and creating a brighter future for both Iranians and Americans."

The letter comes at a time when Secretary of State John Kerry has said a first step agreement to roll back Iran’s nuclear program and reduce tensions is “extremely close,” and President Obama has called on Congress to pause new Iran sanctions.

Nuclear negotiations between the P5+1 group, the United States, the UK, France, Russia, China plus Germany, and Iran are set to resume on Wednesday.

In the letter, the coalition of Iranian American organizations “strongly urged the US Senate to hold off on additional punitive measures on the Iranian economy as the negotiations between Iran and the P5+1 continue.”

Further, the letter warns that new sanctions would “undermine US credibility, splinter the international coalition cooperating on sanctions, and drive Tehran from the negotiating table.”

Additionally, the letter warns that “if the passage of new US sanctions now would cause the breakdown of the diplomatic process, then war – or an Iranian nuclear weapon – would become more, not less likely.”

NTJ/BA