New Iran bill doesn’t mandate up-or-down vote on nuclear deal
Legislation from the Senate Foreign Relations chairman would authorize — but not require — Congress to weigh in before sanctions can be lifted.
WASHINGTON — Legislation introduced the evening of Feb. 27 on Capitol Hill would enable — but not require — Congress to vote on an Iran nuclear deal.
The bill from Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Corker, R-Tenn., creates a mechanism for an up-or-down vote but would allow sanctions relief to go forward if Congress doesn’t act, according to a copy obtained by Al-Monitor. It would also block any new sanctions relief beyond that agreed to in the November Joint Plan of Action for 60 days while Congress reviews the deal.
The White House has promised to veto such legislation, saying it would hamstring negotiators if Iran doesn’t think they can deliver on their commitment to lift sanctions.
In addition, the bill would require President Barack Obama to certify that any deal he reaches with Iran would only allow nuclear activities that meet US nonproliferation objectives and aren’t “inimical” to US national security. Going forward, it would force the president to report to Congress every six months on Iran’s nuclear program and its compliance with a final deal.
