State Department nominees face grilling over Iran deal
Congressional angst over the JCPOA could spell trouble for diplomatic nominations.
The politics of the Iran deal are back in full swing on Capitol Hill as senators prepare to vote on two nominees tasked with carrying it out.
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Oct. 29 heard from Tom Shannon, the would-be replacement for deal negotiator Wendy Sherman as the State Department’s No. 3, and Laura Holgate, the proposed envoy to the International Atomic Energy Agency. Both had relatively smooth hearings but were sharply warned that Congress expects them to keep the pressure on Tehran going forward.
Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., demanded to know what Shannon, currently the department’s counselor, planned to do about Iran’s recent ballistic missile test and potential future violations. The line of questioning only further confirms that fallout from the deal will be felt for months and years to come.
“In regards to Iran violations [of UN resolutions], I can guarantee you that we will be responding to them,” Shannon said. "Our success with the JCPOA [Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action] will only happen if we show a clear willingness to pursue violations elsewhere under other sanctions regimes."
