Harry Reid: Republican Candidates Should Not Use Iran Agreement Proposal as a Springboard

The leader of the Democratic senators in the U.S. Senate, currently in the minority, urged Republicans to vote on a proposal regarding congressional oversight of the nuclear agreement with Iran and warned Republican presidential candidates not to use this issue as a springboard for their political ambitions. According to a report from AFP on April 27, Senator Harry Reid stated that all members of the Senate, regardless of party affiliation, should vote for this proposal, just as it happened in the Foreign Relations Committee where the draft was prepared and approved unanimously by all nineteen members. He added, 'Some Republican senators have publicly expressed their desired changes to this proposal in their efforts to secure the party's presidential nomination. I am concerned that they and others may want to use this well-crafted and non-partisan proposal for their personal ambitions. This proposal is far more important than to become a tool for individuals' political games.' Senator Mitch McConnell, the Republican leader in the Senate who holds the majority, also stated that preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons should not become a partisan issue. He predicted that the discussion on this proposal would be very intense and that a difficult and rigorous process of drafting and debating amendments would occur. Senator Ben Cardin, a Democratic member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, expressed regret over proposed amendments that suggest adding issues such as 'Iran's human rights record, Iran's interference in other countries' affairs, or its missile programs' to this bill. He added, 'All members of the Senate agree that the Iranian government must be held accountable for all these issues. However, adding toxic conditions and amendments may cause Congress to lose its right to oversee the nuclear agreement or even lead to a deadlock in the sensitive negotiations currently ongoing with Iran.' For example, Marco Rubio, a Republican senator, wants Iranian leaders to publicly recognize Israel's right to exist. However, Ted Cruz, a Republican senator from Texas, hopes that supporters of this proposal will prevail so Congress can oversee the nuclear agreement with Iran. Both are among the initial declared candidates for the Republican presidential election. Barack Obama has implicitly agreed with this proposed plan. Supporters of this proposal with its current content are trying to convince the Senate that passing this proposal will allow Congress to weigh in on one of the most important national security issues for the United States. According to this proposal, Barack Obama, the President of the United States, will be required to give at least one month for the House of Representatives and the Senate to discuss and decide before lifting Congress-approved sanctions. If sixty senators oppose the final nuclear agreement with Iran, the president will lose his powers to lift the sanctions. Barack Obama hopes that such a situation does not occur. In the event of congressional opposition, the president can use his veto power, and if one-third of the Senate supports him, Congress will not be able to override the president's veto. Other amendments proposed in recent days include that the Iranian government must release all American citizens imprisoned in that country and not cooperate with North Korea on nuclear issues. Another group suggests that any agreement with Iran should be considered an international treaty and require a two-thirds vote from the Senate for final approval. John Kerry, the U.S. Secretary of State, and Mohammad Javad Zarif, the Iranian Foreign Minister, met for the first time after the interim agreement between Iran and world powers was signed on April 2, on April 27 in New York. There are now only about two months left until the deadline for signing the final contract.