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| Iran nuclear deal: Kerry to face tough questions in Senate | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| US Secretary of State John Kerry is expected to face tough questioning when he appears at a Senate committee to sell the nuclear deal agreed with Iran. | |
| The US Congress has two months to review the deal, which is opposed by Republicans, who control both Houses. | The US Congress has two months to review the deal, which is opposed by Republicans, who control both Houses. |
| The senators on the Foreign Relations Committee are expected to quiz Mr Kerry at length on the content of the deal with Iran. | |
| Many Republicans say last week's accord conceded too much to Tehran. | Many Republicans say last week's accord conceded too much to Tehran. |
| Opponents within Congress could reject the agreement - but President Obama could veto their decision. | Opponents within Congress could reject the agreement - but President Obama could veto their decision. |
| Negotiations between Iran and six world powers - the US, UK, France, China, Russia and Germany - began in 2006. The powers suspected Iran of pursuing a clandestine nuclear weapons programme, something Iran strenuously denied. | Negotiations between Iran and six world powers - the US, UK, France, China, Russia and Germany - began in 2006. The powers suspected Iran of pursuing a clandestine nuclear weapons programme, something Iran strenuously denied. |
| Iran, which wants international sanctions lifted, has agreed to rein in its nuclear activity and accepted a mechanism for inspections by nuclear officials. | Iran, which wants international sanctions lifted, has agreed to rein in its nuclear activity and accepted a mechanism for inspections by nuclear officials. |
| The sanctions cannot be lifted while Congress is discussing the deal - until 17 September at the earliest. | The sanctions cannot be lifted while Congress is discussing the deal - until 17 September at the earliest. |
| Thursday's meeting, which starts at 10:00 EST (15:00 GMT), gives Mr Kerry - along with Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz and Treasury Secretary Jack Lew - the chance to make a case to lawmakers to pass the deal. | Thursday's meeting, which starts at 10:00 EST (15:00 GMT), gives Mr Kerry - along with Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz and Treasury Secretary Jack Lew - the chance to make a case to lawmakers to pass the deal. |
| But the three cabinet officials are likely to encounter a great deal of scepticism. | |
| Could US Congress torpedo the deal? | Could US Congress torpedo the deal? |
| A good deal, for now? | A good deal, for now? |
| Iran: Now a business opportunity? | Iran: Now a business opportunity? |
| "Iran is a terror-sponsoring anti-American regime," said Tom Cotton, a Republican senator from Arkansas. | "Iran is a terror-sponsoring anti-American regime," said Tom Cotton, a Republican senator from Arkansas. |
| "This deal is going to give tens of billions of dollars - at a minimum - without doing anything to rein in their support for terror or their support for America's enemies." | "This deal is going to give tens of billions of dollars - at a minimum - without doing anything to rein in their support for terror or their support for America's enemies." |
| Mr Cotton, along with Mike Pompeo, a Republican Congressman from Kansas, wrote to Mr Obama on Wednesday to express their concern over what they called "side deals" nuclear inspectors were discussing with Iran. | Mr Cotton, along with Mike Pompeo, a Republican Congressman from Kansas, wrote to Mr Obama on Wednesday to express their concern over what they called "side deals" nuclear inspectors were discussing with Iran. |
| A State Department spokesman said there were no secret deals and that there were only "technical arrangements". | A State Department spokesman said there were no secret deals and that there were only "technical arrangements". |
| Bob Corker, the Republican chairman of the committee, said he had a number of concerns - in particular the amount of what he called "leverage" Iran would receive - but that he had not yet decided how to vote. | Bob Corker, the Republican chairman of the committee, said he had a number of concerns - in particular the amount of what he called "leverage" Iran would receive - but that he had not yet decided how to vote. |
| A number of other Democrats have said they do not know how they will vote, including Ben Cardin, the committee's most senior Democrat, who said he had "many areas of concern". | A number of other Democrats have said they do not know how they will vote, including Ben Cardin, the committee's most senior Democrat, who said he had "many areas of concern". |