Loading ...Iranian general: ‘We welcome war with the US’
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The Senate has passed a bipartisan bill to give Congress a chance to review – and possibly reject – any final nuclear deal with Iran.
Thursday’s vote was 98-1.
The vote follows months of wrangling over the legislation while the U.S. and five other nations negotiated with Iran.
Senate passage was a victory for lawmakers who succeeded in muscling their way into the Obama administration’s talks with Iran.
The legislation would block President Barack Obama from waiving congressional sanctions against Iran for at least 30 days while lawmakers review any final nuclear deal.
If senators disapproved of any deal, Obama would lose his power to waive certain economic penalties Congress has imposed on Iran.
The vote followed months of wrangling over the legislation while the U.S. and five other nations have engaged in delicate negotiations with Tehran. Negotiators have been hurrying to reach final agreement by June 30 on a pact to curb Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for relief from sanctions stalling the Iranian economy. Talks resume next week in Vienna.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said it’s imperative for the American people to have a chance to review any final deal that is reached with Iran and to have a say in its outcome.
He said congressional review especially is needed because if any final deal with Iran looks similar to interim agreements reached so far, Iran will be left on the threshold of developing a nuclear weapon. He expressed fears that money Iran receives from the lifting of crippling economic sanctions would be used to support the Syrian government, terror networks and rebels in