US President Barack Obama on Tuesday conceded that the US Congress is to review a nuclear deal with Iran, reluctantly giving in to pressure from Republicans and some in his own party after they crafted a rare compromise demanding a say.
The role for the Republican-controlled Congress injects a new element of uncertainty into the final stages of negotiations between major powers and Iran aimed at curbing Tehran’s nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief.
Since a preliminary agreement was reached in Switzerland on April 2, the White House had stepped up its lobbying to persuade Democratic senators not to support the bipartisan bill that would give Congress oversight of a final deal, saying it could threaten what Obama hopes will be a defining achievement in foreign policy.
Photo: AFP
Washington, as well as negotiators from Iran and other members of the six-power group, has for months voiced concern that Congress could fatally undermine a deal before a June 30 deadline for a final pact.
US Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Corker, who wrote the bill, said the White House had agreed to cooperate only after strong Democratic support became evident. The legislation was passed unanimously by the committee and is expected to pass the full Senate and then the US House of Representatives.
“That change occurred only when they saw how many senators were going to vote for this,” Corker said.
Bipartisan support for the bill had grown in recent weeks to near the 67 votes needed to override any presidential veto, but senators from Obama’s Democratic Party did add amendments to water down the bill.
The bill that passed cut to 30 days from 60 the time that Congress receives to review any final nuclear agreement and eliminated the requirement that Obama certify that Iran is not supporting acts of terrorism against the US.
Instead, it requires the administration to send Congress regular, detailed reports on a range of issues including Iran’s support for terrorism, ballistic missiles and nuclear program.
It requires the Obama administration to send the text of a final agreement to Congress as soon as it is completed, and blocks Obama’s ability to waive many US sanctions on Iran while Congress reviews the deal. It allows a final vote on whether to lift sanctions imposed by Congress in exchange for Iran dismantling its nuclear capabilities.
White House spokesman Josh Earnest said Obama, who had said in recent days he would veto the proposed bill, could accept the compromises that drew bipartisan Senate support.
European officials have said that worries about a possible spoiler role for Congress have undermined the US delegation’s credibility in the talks and raised questions about the Obama’s administration’s ability to deliver on commitments.
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