WASHINGTON — The Senate on Thursday backed legislation that would let Congress review and possibly reject any final deal with Iran on its nuclear program.
The vote was 98-1 for the bipartisan bill that would give Congress a say on what could be a historic accord that the United States and five other nations are trying to finalize with Iran. Under the agreement, Iran would roll back its nuclear program in exchange for relief from crippling economic penalties.
The lone “no” vote came from freshman Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., who wants the administration to submit any agreement to the Senate as a treaty. Under the Constitution, that would require approval of two-thirds of the Senate.
The House is expected to vote next week on the measure.
House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, said in a statement after the vote that the “goal is to stop a bad agreement that could pave the way to a nuclear-armed Iran, set off a regional nuclear arms race and strengthen and legitimize the government of Iran.”
White House spokesman Eric Shultz said President Barack Obama would sign the bill in its current form. But the spokesman added that Obama has made it clear that if amendments are added by the House “that would endanger a deal coming together that prevented Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, that we’d oppose it.”
Even if Congress rejects his final nuclear deal with Iran, however, Obama could use his executive pen to offer a hefty portion of sanctions relief on his own. He could take unilateral actions that — when coupled with European and U.N. sanctions relief — would allow a deal to be implemented.
The U.S. and other nations negotiating with Iran have long suspected that Iran’s nuclear program is secretly aimed at atomic weapons capability. Iran insists the program is devoted to civilian purposes. The talks resume next week in Vienna, with a target date of June 30 for a final agreement.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said the bill “offers the best chance for our constituents through the Congress they elect to weigh in on the White House negotiations with Iran.”
In the House, about 150 Democrats — enough to sustain a veto — wrote the president to express their strong support for the nuclear negotiations with Iran.
“We urge you to stay the course,” the letter said. “We must allow our negotiating team the space and time necessary to build on the progress made in the political framework and turn it into a long-term, verifiable agreement.”
The legislation
The bipartisan bill would give Congress 30 days to review a nuclear pact with Iran. During that time, President Barack Obama would be able to waive sanctions against Iran that were imposed by the executive branch but would have to leave in place sanctions that Congress previously drafted. The bill would require Congress to pass a resolution of disapproval to reject the deal, an action that Obama almost certainly would veto. The Washington Post
