WASHINGTON – House Republican leaders Wednesday postponed debate on President Barack Obama’s landmark nuclear accord with Iran amid a revolt by some Republicans who claimed the White House had not disclosed secret side agreements on the deal.
The delay of the historic debate because of Republican infighting opened a new twist in the White House’s effort to move forward with the accord, but it appeared it would have little impact on its prospects. Under the legislation passed this spring that gave Congress a say in the nuclear deal, lawmakers have until mid-September to approve or disapprove the accord. If they do nothing, it goes into force.
On Tuesday, the administration succeeded in securing the votes needed in the Senate to block the Republican disapproval resolution on the deal in that chamber, sparing Obama from having to use his veto pen. But some Republicans in the House were opening a new line of attack against the deal.
Led by Reps. Peter Roskam of Illinois and Mike Pompeo of Kansas, they said there were secret side agreements between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency, which will help enforce the nuclear agreement, and that the text of those agreements had not been disclosed to Congress.
Under a law adopted in April, reflecting a compromise between the White House and Republican leaders, Congress was given a formal role in approving the Iran deal, with a vote to follow a 60-day review process.
Administration officials have repeatedly said an agreement between Iran and the atomic agency over past nuclear research at a military facility called Parchin was not connected to the deal made by Iran and six world powers to contain its nuclear program. The IAEA, which has long had a role in monitoring Iran’s nuclear program, is not covered by Congress’ Iran Nuclear Review Act.
Still, the Republican critics now say the 60-day clock should never have started ticking and a vote – as expected this week on a resolution disapproving the accord – would be premature.
House Republicans might be examining some legal recourse to hold the administration in violation of the review act, but the delay would seem to have no effect on the final result. There is not enough support for it in the Senate to overcome a Democratic filibuster and bring the resolution to an up-or-down vote.
