US senator urges Congress not to ‘derail opportunity’ to deal with Iran
US Democratic Senator Barbara Boxer has called on Congress not to “derail a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” to deal with Iran, saying anti-Iran legislation is irresponsible now.
In a letter to Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Corker on Wednesday, the senator called for delay over the bill that would require Congress to review any nuclear deal with Iran and unable President Barack Obama to lift Iran sanctions.
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee “has the right and obligation to hold hearings and debate the framework, but it would simply be irresponsible to vote on legislation before we have seen the final terms of a deal,” Boxer said.
The anti-Iran legislation is scheduled for markup in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Tuesday.
“To force Congress to weigh in now on the Iran nuclear talks before a final deal has been completed would be a reckless rush to judgment," Boxer said.
The bill is likely to pass if it goes to a committee vote on Tuesday, but it will need 67 votes on the Senate floor to override President Obama’s promised veto.
Meanwhile, Obama called Corker on Wednesday to try to dissuade him from pushing the legislation.
White House press secretary Josh Earnest said the US president told Corker “this principled approach to diplomacy is the best way” to resolve the Iranian nuclear issue.
He added that although the two share “obvious differences” on the talks, Obama said he “has a lot of respect for the way Corker has approached the situation.”
Senator Corker said last week that the GOP-dominated Senate is only two or three votes short of the two-thirds votes required to override Obama’s threatened veto.
A landmark framework agreement was reached between Iran and the P5+1 group – the US, Britain, France, China, Russia and Germany – in Switzerland on April 2.
The two sides will work to draw up a final accord by the end of a June 30 deadline.
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