Overview
On April 14, 2015, the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations unanimously passed the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015 (S. 615). The bill would require the President to transmit to Congress any final agreement related to Iran’s nuclear program, and would restrict the President from relieving sanctions against Iran while Congress considers the agreement. Congress would have 30 days to pass a resolution either approving or disapproving the agreement. The bill provides for presidential veto of a disapproval resolution, and would restrict the President from relieving sanctions for 10 days following such a veto. It is not entirely clear whether Congress would have authority to override a veto or how the President’s powers would be impacted by such an override.
In the event that the President ultimately does relieve sanctions against Iran, the bill further would require the President to report periodically to Congress regarding Iran’s compliance with the nuclear agreement, and would provide for expedited congressional consideration of reimposition of sanctions in the event Iran is noncompliant. The bill would leave intact sanctions against Iran related to Iran’s support for terrorism, human rights abuses, and ballistic missile program. The bill is expected to pass the full Congress, and President Obama has indicated that he would sign the bill in its current form.
While the bill appears to reflect bipartisan consensus, questions abound. First, reports indicate that an amendment could be introduced requiring the President to certify that Iran is not engaging in acts of terrorism against the United States, which the President has stated would cause him to veto the bill. Furthermore, it is not clear whether the President would consider himself bound by a disapproval resolution, nor is it clear which sanctions Congress and the President consider to be nuclear-related. Finally, it is not clear which sanctions the President intends to relieve in the event of a final agreement with Iran.
We will continue to monitor events related to Iran sanctions.