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| Congress to Start Review of Iran Nuclear Deal | Congress to Start Review of Iran Nuclear Deal |
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| WASHINGTON — Republican leaders in Congress said Tuesday that they were prepared to reject the Iran nuclear deal, while many Democrats remained skeptical but willing to hear out President Obama’s pitch. | |
| Under the terms of legislation passed in May, Congress has 60 days to scrutinize the accord between Iran and the United States, Britain, France, China, Russia and Germany, and then to vote to accept or reject it — or to do nothing. The president can veto any resolution of disapproval. Congress needs a two-thirds majority in each house to override the veto, so to put the deal into force, Mr. Obama only needs one-third of one of the houses to stand with him. | Under the terms of legislation passed in May, Congress has 60 days to scrutinize the accord between Iran and the United States, Britain, France, China, Russia and Germany, and then to vote to accept or reject it — or to do nothing. The president can veto any resolution of disapproval. Congress needs a two-thirds majority in each house to override the veto, so to put the deal into force, Mr. Obama only needs one-third of one of the houses to stand with him. |
| But even potential supporters say the spectacle of a majority of Congress rejecting such a delicate international accord could do real damage. | But even potential supporters say the spectacle of a majority of Congress rejecting such a delicate international accord could do real damage. |
| “If I were in their shoes and I was responsible for this, I would want to win over a majority of the American people and convince them the deal is in their interest,” said Senator Chris Coons, Democrat of Delaware and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. “Who wants their legacy to be a deal that is barely approved by the narrowest of margins and is opposed by the majority of Congress? That would indicate a depth of division that would put the whole venture into question.” | “If I were in their shoes and I was responsible for this, I would want to win over a majority of the American people and convince them the deal is in their interest,” said Senator Chris Coons, Democrat of Delaware and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. “Who wants their legacy to be a deal that is barely approved by the narrowest of margins and is opposed by the majority of Congress? That would indicate a depth of division that would put the whole venture into question.” |
| At the White House on Tuesday, Mr. Obama began what promises to be an arduous process of pitching the historic agreement to Congress even as he was announcing its outlines. He said it was based on strict verification requirements that would leave nothing to chance when it came to Iran’s compliance and to thwarting its means of obtaining a weapon. | At the White House on Tuesday, Mr. Obama began what promises to be an arduous process of pitching the historic agreement to Congress even as he was announcing its outlines. He said it was based on strict verification requirements that would leave nothing to chance when it came to Iran’s compliance and to thwarting its means of obtaining a weapon. |
| Saying he welcomed congressional scrutiny, the president offered “extensive briefings” from members of his administration on the deal, and threatened to veto any effort by Congress to block it. But he also previewed an overarching theme that senior officials and those close to the White House cite as a key component of their argument for the pact. | Saying he welcomed congressional scrutiny, the president offered “extensive briefings” from members of his administration on the deal, and threatened to veto any effort by Congress to block it. But he also previewed an overarching theme that senior officials and those close to the White House cite as a key component of their argument for the pact. |
| “Consider what happens in a world without this deal,” Mr. Obama said, arguing that without an accord there would be “no lasting constraints on Iran’s nuclear program,” prompting other countries in the area to race for a weapon and “threatening a nuclear arms race in the most volatile region in the world.” | “Consider what happens in a world without this deal,” Mr. Obama said, arguing that without an accord there would be “no lasting constraints on Iran’s nuclear program,” prompting other countries in the area to race for a weapon and “threatening a nuclear arms race in the most volatile region in the world.” |
| The House Foreign Relations Committee will open a review of the deal on Tuesday with hearings before the details are widely known. The committee’s chairman, Representative Ed Royce, Republican of California, expressed his concerns in an interview on Monday, as a deal appeared imminent. | The House Foreign Relations Committee will open a review of the deal on Tuesday with hearings before the details are widely known. The committee’s chairman, Representative Ed Royce, Republican of California, expressed his concerns in an interview on Monday, as a deal appeared imminent. |
| “We have given up not just all the leverage we had on Iran with the sanctions. We’ve also sent a message of weakness in the way this has been handled,” he said. | “We have given up not just all the leverage we had on Iran with the sanctions. We’ve also sent a message of weakness in the way this has been handled,” he said. |
| Administration officials argued on Tuesday that a decision by the United States to walk away from the agreement would in essence free Iran from crippling sanctions, including limits on oil sales, that European leaders and those from China, India, South Korea and Japan agreed to impose, in some cases at great economic cost to their countries. | |
| “If, having gotten this deal, we then kill it, it is hard to see why those countries would then go back along with additional sanctions,” one senior administration official said, speaking on condition of anonymity to describe the strategy behind the agreement. “A vote to kill this deal could potentially be a vote to kill the sanctions regime.” | |
| Mr. Obama and White House aides have already begun the wooing. At a White House reception last week for Senate Democrats, Mr. Obama spoke at length about the deal’s importance to his legacy, trying hard to assure his own party that he would not rush into an accord just to have the accomplishment. | Mr. Obama and White House aides have already begun the wooing. At a White House reception last week for Senate Democrats, Mr. Obama spoke at length about the deal’s importance to his legacy, trying hard to assure his own party that he would not rush into an accord just to have the accomplishment. |
| “My foreign policy legacy in this area will be judged on whether or not the deal works, not just over the next 18 months but over many years,” Mr. Coons said Mr. Obama had told the gathering. “If I put together a deal that fails to stop Iran from getting a nuclear weapon, that would be part of my legacy as well,” the president added, according to Mr. Coons. | “My foreign policy legacy in this area will be judged on whether or not the deal works, not just over the next 18 months but over many years,” Mr. Coons said Mr. Obama had told the gathering. “If I put together a deal that fails to stop Iran from getting a nuclear weapon, that would be part of my legacy as well,” the president added, according to Mr. Coons. |
| The White House chief of staff, Denis R. McDonough, met last week with the Republican chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Bob Corker of Tennessee, and its ranking Democrat, Senator Benjamin L. Cardin of Maryland, to hear their concerns, Mr. Cardin said. After some initial reluctance to share classified information on the talks, the White House has become far more forthcoming, Mr. Cardin added. | The White House chief of staff, Denis R. McDonough, met last week with the Republican chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Bob Corker of Tennessee, and its ranking Democrat, Senator Benjamin L. Cardin of Maryland, to hear their concerns, Mr. Cardin said. After some initial reluctance to share classified information on the talks, the White House has become far more forthcoming, Mr. Cardin added. |
| “There are people who have already made up their minds, no question about that, and I think that’s unfortunate,” Mr. Cardin said. “But at this point, a majority of Congress believes we have to objectively review what’s in the agreement before we decide what course we’re going to take.” | “There are people who have already made up their minds, no question about that, and I think that’s unfortunate,” Mr. Cardin said. “But at this point, a majority of Congress believes we have to objectively review what’s in the agreement before we decide what course we’re going to take.” |
| Mr. Cardin said the Iran review, while proceeding in Congress initially over the White House’s objections, probably played to the West’s advantage. Under the terms of the law that established the review, Congress has 30 days to examine the agreement before sanctions can be lifted on Iran. But because Congress will be in its August recess when that review period ends, the deal effectively has an additional month of public scrutiny before Congress can decide its actions. | Mr. Cardin said the Iran review, while proceeding in Congress initially over the White House’s objections, probably played to the West’s advantage. Under the terms of the law that established the review, Congress has 30 days to examine the agreement before sanctions can be lifted on Iran. But because Congress will be in its August recess when that review period ends, the deal effectively has an additional month of public scrutiny before Congress can decide its actions. |
| Mr. Cardin said the Iranians thought they could force negotiators to accept terms more favorable to Tehran to avoid that extra 30-day period. But American negotiators in the end let that deadline slip. | Mr. Cardin said the Iranians thought they could force negotiators to accept terms more favorable to Tehran to avoid that extra 30-day period. But American negotiators in the end let that deadline slip. |
| “Iran thought they’d blink at the last minute, and they didn’t,” he said. | “Iran thought they’d blink at the last minute, and they didn’t,” he said. |
| White House officials must now decide whether the president should try to win over a majority of Congress, including hostile Republicans, or focus on shoring up a Democratic base to sustain a veto. Mr. Royce said he thought the strategy to protect the veto was already in play. | White House officials must now decide whether the president should try to win over a majority of Congress, including hostile Republicans, or focus on shoring up a Democratic base to sustain a veto. Mr. Royce said he thought the strategy to protect the veto was already in play. |
| “I don’t see them convincing skeptical Democrats this is a good agreement. I see them pressuring Democrats to go along,” he said. | “I don’t see them convincing skeptical Democrats this is a good agreement. I see them pressuring Democrats to go along,” he said. |
| Democrats see a broader strategy. Mr. Coons said earlier this summer that he had told administration officials he did not just want political reassurances. He was trained as a chemist, and he said he had wanted to hear the science backing the administration’s contention that a deal could stop Iran from developing a nuclear weapon. White House officials then arranged a classified briefing with Ernest J. Moniz, the energy secretary; a Nobel Laureate; and three nuclear weapons scientists. | Democrats see a broader strategy. Mr. Coons said earlier this summer that he had told administration officials he did not just want political reassurances. He was trained as a chemist, and he said he had wanted to hear the science backing the administration’s contention that a deal could stop Iran from developing a nuclear weapon. White House officials then arranged a classified briefing with Ernest J. Moniz, the energy secretary; a Nobel Laureate; and three nuclear weapons scientists. |
| “It was substantively reassuring,” Mr. Coons said. | “It was substantively reassuring,” Mr. Coons said. |
| Mr. Cardin added, “They will be lobbying hard, not just with Congress but with the American people.” | Mr. Cardin added, “They will be lobbying hard, not just with Congress but with the American people.” |
| Several left-leaning groups, including many of the antiwar activists who helped propel Mr. Obama into the White House, said on Tuesday that they would be working aggressively to defend the deal. | Several left-leaning groups, including many of the antiwar activists who helped propel Mr. Obama into the White House, said on Tuesday that they would be working aggressively to defend the deal. |
| “The diplomatic negotiations between the United States and five world powers have yielded a strong, verifiable deal with Iran,” said Anna Galland, the executive director of MoveOn.Org Civic Action. | “The diplomatic negotiations between the United States and five world powers have yielded a strong, verifiable deal with Iran,” said Anna Galland, the executive director of MoveOn.Org Civic Action. |
| The group called the agreement “a historic foreign policy success for the Obama administration,” and said it was urging all members of Congress to back it. | The group called the agreement “a historic foreign policy success for the Obama administration,” and said it was urging all members of Congress to back it. |
| “Persuading senators and representatives to do so will be MoveOn members’ top priority over the next 60 days,” Ms. Galland added. | “Persuading senators and representatives to do so will be MoveOn members’ top priority over the next 60 days,” Ms. Galland added. |
| Win Without War, a coalition of national groups, said it too was launching a “national campaign” in favor of the agreement. | Win Without War, a coalition of national groups, said it too was launching a “national campaign” in favor of the agreement. |
| “This is a good deal and a historic opportunity to win without war,” Stephen Miles, the group’s advocacy director, said in a statement. “Unfortunately, congressional opponents of any deal with Iran will stop at nothing to scuttle this agreement and put our nation on the path to yet another war in the Middle East. We have seen this movie before and we know how it ends. We will not stand idly by while those who pushed for war with Iraq try to push us into war with Iran.” | “This is a good deal and a historic opportunity to win without war,” Stephen Miles, the group’s advocacy director, said in a statement. “Unfortunately, congressional opponents of any deal with Iran will stop at nothing to scuttle this agreement and put our nation on the path to yet another war in the Middle East. We have seen this movie before and we know how it ends. We will not stand idly by while those who pushed for war with Iraq try to push us into war with Iran.” |
| Jeremy Ben-Ami, the president of J Street, a liberal pro-Israel group, said his organization was likely to support the deal “because the primary interest of the United States and Israel was to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon, and that is the outcome of this deal.” | Jeremy Ben-Ami, the president of J Street, a liberal pro-Israel group, said his organization was likely to support the deal “because the primary interest of the United States and Israel was to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon, and that is the outcome of this deal.” |
| But the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, a pro-Israel group known as Aipac that is likely to campaign against the deal, said it was “deeply concerned” about the contents. | But the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, a pro-Israel group known as Aipac that is likely to campaign against the deal, said it was “deeply concerned” about the contents. |
| In a statement, the group said it feared the agreement had fallen short of “critical requirements” it had insisted upon for a “good deal,” which included “anytime, anywhere” inspections of Iranian nuclear sites and a duration of multiple decades. | In a statement, the group said it feared the agreement had fallen short of “critical requirements” it had insisted upon for a “good deal,” which included “anytime, anywhere” inspections of Iranian nuclear sites and a duration of multiple decades. |
| “We are deeply concerned based on initial reports that this proposed agreement may not meet these requirements, and thereby would fail to block Iran’s path to a nuclear weapon and would further entrench and empower the leading state sponsor of terror,” Aipac said. | “We are deeply concerned based on initial reports that this proposed agreement may not meet these requirements, and thereby would fail to block Iran’s path to a nuclear weapon and would further entrench and empower the leading state sponsor of terror,” Aipac said. |