Obama will have to change the strategy of sanctions against Iran and Russia with the arrival of the new Congress

Over the past year, there have been historic nuclear talks with Iran, followed by sanctions against Russia for supporting separatists in Ukraine. At the same time, the Obama administration has repeatedly asked the US Congress not to pass sanctions by law in order to be able to control the process and prevent a negative impact on its own metallurgy and other spheres of the economy and finance.

However, Republicans have wrested control of the Senate from Democrats for the first time since 2006, so the White House may not be able to deter Congress from belligerent goals, especially if the Western powers fail to reach a comprehensive nuclear deal with Iran by November 24, or the security situation in Ukraine deteriorates.

While members of both parties criticized the administration for providing Iran with some sanctions relief and not being tough on Russia, Nevada Democratic leader Harry Reid in the Senate managed to largely prevent sanctions from being legislated. The White House is likely to lose that protection when Senator Mitch McConnell, Kentucky Majority Leader, takes office in 2015.

Experts say this could prompt the Obama administration to strike a sanctions agreement with Republican leaders, although the administration would prefer to retain full control over the sanctions process, so negotiations are possible before the Bill is passed. As for Iran, the Obama administration may face "a very high risk of a decision being made by Congress." However, Secretary of State John Kerry, during a briefing in France, denied that negotiations with Iran would be complicated by the new Republican leadership in Congress.