U.S. House of Representatives Approves 'Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act'

On Thursday, May 14, the U.S. House of Representatives voted on the 'Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act,' which had previously passed the Senate with a significant majority. This bill requires the signature of Barack Obama, the President of the United States, who has stated he will sign it. According to an Associated Press report, the bill passed the House with 400 votes in favor and 25 against. The Senate had approved the bill last week with a decisive majority of 98 votes for and 1 against. After a compromise between President Obama and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and some amendments, the bill was prepared for voting. This law gives American lawmakers the opportunity to review any potential nuclear agreement between the P5+1 group and Iran and express their approval or disapproval. The law prevents Barack Obama from suspending congressional sanctions for thirty days. If Congress opposes the agreement and its implementation, Barack Obama can still use his veto power against this decision. The discussed bill has also caused some controversy in the Iranian Parliament. Some representatives who are critical of the negotiation process have called for a temporary halt to negotiations in response to this bill. Iranian negotiators say that the impact of such a law would only delay the implementation of the comprehensive agreement by about two months. In this context, the U.S. Senate approved the review of the nuclear agreement with Iran, and a letter from 150 U.S. representatives in support of nuclear negotiations with Iran was prepared. A proposal to 'halt nuclear negotiations until U.S. threats cease' is being drafted in the Iranian Parliament. The parliamentary leadership stated that a bill to counter the Senate's decision is not currently necessary.