GOP fires warning shots at Biden over Iran deal-making

THE HILL- June 17th, 2023

Republicans are warning the Biden administration against pursuing any agreement with Iran that would provide sanctions relief without approval from Congress, amid signs of progress in negotiations to contain Iran’s nuclear weapons program.

While President Biden’s top aides are keeping quiet on any progress with Tehran, reports that U.S. and Iranian officials are looking to carry out deescalating actions as part of an informal agreement are infuriating GOP members.

“I urge the Administration to remember that U.S. law requires that any agreement, arrangement, or understanding with Iran needs to be submitted to Congress,” Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas), chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, wrote in a letter to Biden on Thursday.

American diplomacy with Iran is a partisan flash point that touches some of the most serious U.S. foreign policy issues, including support for Israel, pushing back on Russia’s war in Ukraine and confronting China’s ambitions for global influence.

And it’s a battle that Republicans are happy to stoke ahead of the 2024 election.

Republicans who celebrated former President Trump’s withdrawal in 2018 from the nuclear deal with Iran have long-argued that Biden’s pursuit of diplomacy with Tehran are limited under the terms of the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015 (INARA).

“INARA was enacted with strong bipartisan support to ensure Congressional oversight of U.S. policy regarding Iran’s nuclear program,” McCaul wrote.

“This definition makes clear that any arrangement or understanding with Iran, even informal, requires submission to Congress.”

And it’s a battle that Republicans are happy to stoke ahead of the 2024 election.

“INARA was enacted with strong bipartisan support to ensure Congressional oversight of U.S. policy regarding Iran’s nuclear program,” McCaul wrote.

“This definition makes clear that any arrangement or understanding with Iran, even informal, requires submission to Congress.”

Biden’s allies cast doubt on the INARA argument, but Republican and conservative hardliners are staking out their positions.

“Iran is an adversary and a state sponsor of terrorism. Any back-door agreement here is an attempt to skirt congressional oversight,” Sen. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, tweeted on Thursday.

“The Biden Admin is long-overdue to address reports of these misguided ‘proximity talks’ with Iran,” Senate Foreign Relations ranking member Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho) tweeted.