Senate votes to tighten sanctions on Iran Associated Press Copyright 2012 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Updated 8:24 a.m., Friday, November 30, 2012 The Obama administration had expressed reservations about the new sanctions and Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin, D-Mich., said he hoped lawmakers could address those concerns in crafting the final version of the bill. Late Thursday, the Senate revived a divisive debate over civil liberties and the president's powers as commander in chief, voting that Americans citizens suspected of terrorism and seized on U.S.