Congress moves bill jeopardizing Iran nuclear deal
New legislation could violate the JCPOA by impeding aircraft sales to Iran.
As Congress moves to ratchet up pressure on Iran, a key House panel today approved a bill that could run afoul of the 2015 nuclear deal.
The Strengthening Oversight of Iran’s Access to Finance Act would make it much more difficult for Iran to purchase commercial aircraft from firms that do business in the United States. Iran’s ability to replenish its aging civil aviation fleet, which was depleted by decades of sanctions, was a key incentive for Tehran to sign onto the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
The House Financial Services Committee voted to advance the bill 38-21 today, paving the way for the full House to vote. All of the Republicans on the commitee voted yes, joined by only five Democrats.
“Iran would view [the bill’s] enactment into law as a breach of the JCPOA,” Kenneth Katzman, an Iran expert at the Congressional Research Service, told Al-Monitor. “The agreement contains a clear US commitment to undertake such sales to Iran.”
