Agreement Between Democrats and Republicans in the U.S. Senate on Iran Deal Review Details

Reports indicate that Democratic and Republican members of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee have reached an agreement on the details of a proposal requiring congressional approval for any potential deal with Iran. According to Reuters, Bob Corker, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, stated on Tuesday, April 14, that Republican and Democratic members have agreed that any potential deal with Iran will be reviewed by Congress within 52 days. A Senate advisor mentioned that this timeframe was calculated based on the fact that the potential deal would be reviewed in Congress for 30 days, followed by 12 days for a potential veto by the President and 10 days for Congress to consider overriding the President's veto. This proposal is set to be voted on today in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. The Republican Party, which holds a majority in both the Senate and the House of Representatives, supports this proposal. Under this proposal, the nuclear agreement with Iran would require congressional approval. Senator Corker stated that under this proposal, President Barack Obama would not be able to lift the sanctions imposed by Congress against Iran during the 52-day review period. According to Reuters, a closed-door meeting of Senate members with Secretary of State John Kerry and other government officials began on Tuesday. Republicans need 67 votes out of 100 in the Senate to override a presidential veto. Supporters of the proposal for congressional review of the nuclear agreement with Iran have faced challenges in gaining approval from members of both parties in the Senate in recent weeks. Meanwhile, the White House reiterated on Monday its opposition to congressional intervention in the current nuclear issue with Iran and stated that it would veto any congressional resolution in this regard. Josh Earnest, the White House spokesman, emphasized in his press conference that any congressional resolution regarding the nuclear agreement with Iran would be vetoed by President Barack Obama. In this context, Kerry urges Congress to give the final agreement with Iran time and space.