U.S. Republican senators say they will not back new Iran nuclear deal

U.S. Republican senators say they will not back new Iran nuclear deal

Reuters- March 14th ,2022

WASHINGTON, March 14 (Reuters) – Forty-nine of the 50 Republican U.S. senators said on Monday they will not back an emerging new nuclear deal between Iran and world powers, underscoring their party’s opposition to attempts to revive a 2015 accord amid fears talks might collapse.

Citing press reports about the as-yet-unfinalized agreement, which could be torpedoed by Russian opposition, the lawmakers said in a statement that Democratic President Joe Biden’s administration might reach a deal to weaken sanctions and lessen restrictions on Iran’s nuclear program.

They pledged to do everything in their power to reverse an agreement that does not “completely block” Iran’s ability to develop a nuclear weapon, constrain its ballistic missile program and “confront Iran’s support for terrorism.”

Tehran denies it has ever sought atomic bombs.

No congressional Republicans supported the 2015 nuclear agreement between Tehran and major powers, reached under Democratic President Barack Obama, that curbed Iran’s uranium enrichment program in exchange for a lifting of international sanctions against Tehran. A handful of Democrats also objected.

Aides to Senator Rand Paul, the only Republican who did not sign the statement, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Congress may have the right to renew an agreement under the 2015 Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act (INARA), but lawmakers are unlikely to be able to kill a deal outright after failing to do in 2015 when Republicans controlled Congress.

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https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/us-republican-senators-say-they-will-not-support-new-iran-nuclear-deal-2022-03-14/