WASHINGTON
— The Senate begins debate Tuesday over legislation empowering
Congress to review and possibly reject any nuclear pact the Obama
administration develops with Iran.
The
bill approved by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee has gained the
tacit approval of Obama, and proponents are trying to discourage any
changes. They recognize that politically driven amendments could
undermine Democratic support and sink the carefully crafted measure.
The
legislation would block Obama from waiving congressional sanctions for
at least 30 days while lawmakers weigh in. And it would stipulate that
if senators disapprove the deal, Obama would lose authority to waive
certain economic penalties — an event that would certainly prompt a
presidential veto.
Among
proposed additions to the bill are demands that Iran release any U.S.
citizens it is holding and refrain from any cooperation with
nuclear-armed North Korea. Another insists that any agreement be treated
as an international treaty, requiring two-thirds ratification by the
Senate.
Another
set of amendments would block any sanctions relief for Iran until it
meets goals the U.S. set years ago as negotiating stances and has long
since abandoned.
U.S.
Secretary of State John Kerry and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad
Javad Zarif met Monday in New York for the first time since April 2,
when world powers and Iran sealed a framework agreement. They now have
little more than two months to meet their own June 30 deadline for a
comprehensive accord.
Neither
man spoke to reporters as the meeting got underway, but earlier Kerry
told a U.N. conference on nuclear non-proliferation that a deal would
make the world a safer place. "I want you to know the hard work is far
from over and some key issues remain unresolved," he said. "But we are,
in fact, closer than ever to the good comprehensive deal that we have
been seeking. And if we can get there, the entire world will be safer."
Meanwhile,
Republican presidential candidates are lining up to oppose any deal
with a government the U.S. considers the world's leading state sponsor
of terrorism and to show their support for Israel.
Sen.
Marco Rubio of Florida wants to require Iran's leaders to publicly
accept Israel's right to exist, a nearly impossible mandate. Sen. Ted
Cruz of Texas hopes to put the onus on advocates to win congressional
approval of a deal, and not on opponents to gather enough votes for
rejection.
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