Overview
On May 22, 2015, President Obama signed into law the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015 (H.R. 1191), which is identical to the bill that passed the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations on April 17, which we previously summarized.
As noted in our previous summary, the statute requires 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 law 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 statute further requires the President to report periodically to Congress regarding Iran’s compliance with the nuclear agreement, and provides for expedited congressional consideration of reimposition of sanctions in the event Iran is noncompliant. The law leaves intact sanctions against Iran related to Iran’s support for terrorism, human rights abuses, and ballistic missile program.
We will continue to monitor events related to Iran sanctions.