WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, urged the Obama administration and negotiators for other P5-plus-one nations not to “rush headlong” into a nuclear deal with Iran just to meet a March 31 target date for a political framework agreement. Negotiations will continue until June 30, which is the final deadline for a comprehensive agreement.
“I am concerned our negotiators may be cutting corners and overlooking significant issues as they rush headlong into a deal,” said Sen. Bob Corker. “Our nation and the world would be much better off if they would slow down or pause to ensure that if a deal is reached, it will be enforceable, hold Iran accountable, and be strong enough to stand the test of time. Especially with all of the turmoil in the region today, a bad deal is far worse than no deal. These negotiations will affect many generations to come, and should be done with the soberness and pragmatism that acknowledges its importance.”
Senator Corker announced earlier this month that the Senate Foreign Relations Committee will vote on April 14 on his bipartisan legislation, the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015, which would require congressional review of a nuclear deal if one is reached by June 30. Corker believes the American people, through their elected representatives, must have the opportunity to weigh in to ensure any final deal truly can eliminate the threat of Iran’s nuclear program and hold the regime accountable.
The Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015 would require any final agreement with Iran to be submitted to Congress for a 60-day review period before congressionally-mandated sanctions on Iran could be waived or suspended by the president. The legislation was coauthored by Senators Corker, Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Tim Kaine (D-Va.). Cosponsors of the bill include Senators John McCain (R-Ariz.), Joe Donnelly (D-Ind.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.), Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.), Bill Nelson (D- Fla.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Angus King (I-Maine), Rand Paul (R-Ky.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Dean Heller (R-NV), Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), and Ben Sasse (R-Neb.).
For text and a summary of the bill, click here.
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