Samantha Power, US ambassador to the United Nations, has circulated the draft for a U.N. resolution that would end worldwide sanctions on Iran once the worldwide Atomic Energy Agency verifies its compliance with a deal curbing its nuclear program.
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Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Virginia, another member of the committee, said he wasn’t troubled by the administration going to the United Nations now and said it shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone because United Nations action was discussed when Congress passed the Iran review act. “The drawback is, Iran goes to get all of that cash and the US does not get something for it”. He suggested the White House may believe it lived up to the “spirit of the law”.
US House of Representatives Republicans introduced a resolution voicing disapproval of the Iran nuclear deal, paving the way to a debate on it.
Should the congressional leadership advance Roskam’s bill, the parameters of the debate over the next two months, and the time allotted to Congress to review the deal, sets up a clear confrontation between Congress and the White House. In exchange, the world powers agreed to ease economic sanctions on Iran.
Opponents argue the deal does not permanently dismantle Iran’s nuclear facilities and say sanctions relief could allow Tehran to fuel instability in the region.
He said the United Nations vote will have no impact on sanctions imposed by Congress or the president and argued the worldwide body is showing “significant deference” to Congress by postponing implementation of the order for 90 days.
“There was nothing to be lost by waiting until after the review period was over”, Cardin said in an interview, according to Politico.
Doing so would be contrary to your statement that “it’s important for the American people and Congress to get a full opportunity to review this deal…our national security policies are stronger and more effective when they are subject to the scrutiny and transparency that democracy demands”.
Sen. Ben Cardin of Maryland, the senior Democrat on the panel, said he also was distressed. “So I think it would be far better to have that vote after the 60-day review, assuming that the agreement is not effectively rejected by Congress”.
“[T]he Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action fails to address Iran’s egregious human rights record, Iran’s role as the world’s leading state-sponsor of worldwide terrorism and Iran’s unjust imprisonment of innocent United States citizens”, the resolution said.
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– Updated at 3:30 p.m.
