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| Obama scrambles to get sceptics in Congress to support Iran nuclear deal | Obama scrambles to get sceptics in Congress to support Iran nuclear deal |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The White House is emphasising the incomplete nature of its tentative nuclear deal with Iran as Barack Obama leads a flurry of phone calls to sceptical lawmakers in Washington to buy time to complete key negotiations. | The White House is emphasising the incomplete nature of its tentative nuclear deal with Iran as Barack Obama leads a flurry of phone calls to sceptical lawmakers in Washington to buy time to complete key negotiations. |
| In contrast to the triumphant tone of last week’s announcement of a framework agreement in Lausanne, US officials acknowledged on Monday that important differences remain between negotiators over exactly when and how economic sanctions on Iran would be lifted. | In contrast to the triumphant tone of last week’s announcement of a framework agreement in Lausanne, US officials acknowledged on Monday that important differences remain between negotiators over exactly when and how economic sanctions on Iran would be lifted. |
| Though stressing this was “just a sequencing argument” rather than a major obstacle, Obama spokesman Josh Earnest argued it was another important reason for Congress to wait until a final version in June before acting on the deal. | Though stressing this was “just a sequencing argument” rather than a major obstacle, Obama spokesman Josh Earnest argued it was another important reason for Congress to wait until a final version in June before acting on the deal. |
| “There are still important details that have to be worked out,” he told reporters. “And I’m confident that [energy] secretary [Ernest] Moniz and secretary [of state John] Kerry should probably start catching up on sleep now because we’re probably going to have a couple more sleepless weeks in June too.” | “There are still important details that have to be worked out,” he told reporters. “And I’m confident that [energy] secretary [Ernest] Moniz and secretary [of state John] Kerry should probably start catching up on sleep now because we’re probably going to have a couple more sleepless weeks in June too.” |
| Related: Iran disputes US nuclear deal 'fact sheet' | Related: Iran disputes US nuclear deal 'fact sheet' |
| The US argues that sanctions should be phased out to coincide with the implementation of agreed restrictions on Iranian nuclear activities, while Iran insists they should be lifted immediately. | The US argues that sanctions should be phased out to coincide with the implementation of agreed restrictions on Iranian nuclear activities, while Iran insists they should be lifted immediately. |
| But lobbyists involved in trying to sell the deal on Capitol Hill suggest the issue is partly a “manufactured crisis” to help both sides deal with remaining political obstacles at home before the final deadline of 30 June. | But lobbyists involved in trying to sell the deal on Capitol Hill suggest the issue is partly a “manufactured crisis” to help both sides deal with remaining political obstacles at home before the final deadline of 30 June. |
| Obama in particular faces a real threat that Congress could prevent him from lifting sanctions entirely if enough Democrats join Republicans in opposing the administration. | Obama in particular faces a real threat that Congress could prevent him from lifting sanctions entirely if enough Democrats join Republicans in opposing the administration. |
| Foreign relations committee chair Bob Corker, who is leading legislation demanding that Obama allow Congress have the final say, even claims to have enough support to override a presidential veto. | Foreign relations committee chair Bob Corker, who is leading legislation demanding that Obama allow Congress have the final say, even claims to have enough support to override a presidential veto. |
| Declared support from key Democrats such as Chuck Schumer and Bob Menendez suggests he may indeed get the necessary two-thirds of the Senate, though reaching the same threshold in the House of Representatives and sustaining a separate override vote in either chamber will be harder. | Declared support from key Democrats such as Chuck Schumer and Bob Menendez suggests he may indeed get the necessary two-thirds of the Senate, though reaching the same threshold in the House of Representatives and sustaining a separate override vote in either chamber will be harder. |
| “I don’t think a veto-proof majority is in the bag yet,” said Dylan Williams, director of government affairs at J Street, a liberal group in Washington that supports the deal. | “I don’t think a veto-proof majority is in the bag yet,” said Dylan Williams, director of government affairs at J Street, a liberal group in Washington that supports the deal. |
| “It only takes one-third of one chamber of Congress in order to support this deal,” he added, pointing out that opponents would have to pass the bill, vote again to override the president’s veto and then do the same with a vote on the deal itself. “It’s doable, but it’s not something you want to gamble on.” | “It only takes one-third of one chamber of Congress in order to support this deal,” he added, pointing out that opponents would have to pass the bill, vote again to override the president’s veto and then do the same with a vote on the deal itself. “It’s doable, but it’s not something you want to gamble on.” |
| The narrowness of the whip count has led to an unprecedented burst of arm twisting from the White House, where Obama made to calls to leaders of both parties over Easter and was joined by Kerry, Moniz and vice-president Joe Biden, who targeted other wavering lawmakers. | The narrowness of the whip count has led to an unprecedented burst of arm twisting from the White House, where Obama made to calls to leaders of both parties over Easter and was joined by Kerry, Moniz and vice-president Joe Biden, who targeted other wavering lawmakers. |
| “What we have done over the course of the last four or five days is reached out very aggressively to make sure that members of Congress understand exactly what Iran has committed to do in terms of curtailing and in some cases rolling back the scope of their nuclear program,” said spokesman Earnest. | “What we have done over the course of the last four or five days is reached out very aggressively to make sure that members of Congress understand exactly what Iran has committed to do in terms of curtailing and in some cases rolling back the scope of their nuclear program,” said spokesman Earnest. |
| Secretary Moniz also led a briefing for reporters on Monday in which he stressed that economic penalties would be quickly restored (a provision known as “snap-back”) if Iran was seen to be failing to comply with any major element of the deal. | Secretary Moniz also led a briefing for reporters on Monday in which he stressed that economic penalties would be quickly restored (a provision known as “snap-back”) if Iran was seen to be failing to comply with any major element of the deal. |
| “In terms of the snap-back of the sanctions, there are certainly issues remaining to be negotiated in terms of specific timing and – and milestones,” he said. “However, the key elements are all decided. And so, for example, in terms of snap-back of sanctions, let’s just say, for example, no one country could block the snap-back of sanctions.” | “In terms of the snap-back of the sanctions, there are certainly issues remaining to be negotiated in terms of specific timing and – and milestones,” he said. “However, the key elements are all decided. And so, for example, in terms of snap-back of sanctions, let’s just say, for example, no one country could block the snap-back of sanctions.” |
| But Republicans are attempting to broaden their opposition to the deal by seeking additional conditions such as guarantees over Iranian-supported terrorism during the “mark-up” phase of Corker’s bill in committee next week. | But Republicans are attempting to broaden their opposition to the deal by seeking additional conditions such as guarantees over Iranian-supported terrorism during the “mark-up” phase of Corker’s bill in committee next week. |
| “We cannot forget that Iran is pursuing a full-spectrum campaign to expand its sphere of influence in the greater Middle East,” said Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell in a statement issued on Monday. | “We cannot forget that Iran is pursuing a full-spectrum campaign to expand its sphere of influence in the greater Middle East,” said Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell in a statement issued on Monday. |
| “America and its allies will need to be vigilant in combating all of Iran’s other belligerent actions as it uses the funding that would be derived from sanctions relief to support proxy forces and advance its stockpile of missiles,” he added. “The administration needs to explain to the Congress and the American people why an interim agreement should result in reduced pressure on the world’s leading state sponsor of terror.” | “America and its allies will need to be vigilant in combating all of Iran’s other belligerent actions as it uses the funding that would be derived from sanctions relief to support proxy forces and advance its stockpile of missiles,” he added. “The administration needs to explain to the Congress and the American people why an interim agreement should result in reduced pressure on the world’s leading state sponsor of terror.” |
| But Obama has resisted pressure to broaden the scope of his objectives in Iran, and ridiculed notions this might even include its recognition of Israel. | |
| ”We want Iran not to have nuclear weapons precisely because we can’t bank on the nature of the regime changing,” the president told NPR in an interview to be broadcast in full on Tuesday. “That’s exactly why we don’t want to have nuclear weapons. if suddenly Iran transformed itself to Germany or Sweden or France then there would be a different set of conversations about their nuclear infrastructure,” he added. |