White House: Obama Will Veto Senate Plan on Iran Negotiations

On Saturday, March 9, the White House announced that Barack Obama, the President of the United States, will veto a newly proposed plan to the Senate that allows Congress to weigh in on any potential nuclear agreement with Iran. According to Reuters, Bernadette Meehan, spokesperson for the National Security Council, stated that Barack Obama has clearly said that now is not the right time for Congress to seek to pass a plan regarding Iran. She added that the United States must give our negotiators the best possible chance for success, rather than complicating their efforts. According to the plan presented to the U.S. Senate on Friday, March 8, any agreement regarding Iran's nuclear program must be reviewed by the U.S. Congress. The 'Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act' requires the Obama administration to submit the text of any agreement with Iran to Congress within five days of reaching a deal. Reports indicate that this plan also prohibits the President from suspending U.S. congressional sanctions against Iran for 60 days following a final agreement with Tehran. Bob Corker, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and a supporter of this plan, reiterated the necessity of its approval, stating, 'It is important that we do something to ensure the overall sanctions of Congress [against Iran] are maintained.' The Senate Foreign Relations Committee had also approved a new sanctions plan against Iran in January, but U.S. lawmakers agreed not to present this plan to the Senate until April 4, given the ongoing negotiations between Iran and the P5+1 group. Currently, it is unclear when the plan presented on Friday will be put to a vote in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.