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| Republicans fume over Iran nuclear deal but hope of undermining accord is slim | Republicans fume over Iran nuclear deal but hope of undermining accord is slim |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| Related: Iran nuclear deal: historic agreement in Vienna – live updates | Related: Iran nuclear deal: historic agreement in Vienna – live updates |
| Republican leaders reacted with deep suspicion to the landmark nuclear deal with Iran unveiled on Tuesday, portraying the agreement between all major world powers as a flawed and dangerous move that would face stiff opposition from Congress. | Republican leaders reacted with deep suspicion to the landmark nuclear deal with Iran unveiled on Tuesday, portraying the agreement between all major world powers as a flawed and dangerous move that would face stiff opposition from Congress. |
| Kickstarting what is expected to be a concerted effort to undermine the accord over the next two months, Mitch McConnell, the Republican Senate majority leader, accused the White House of “reaching the best deal acceptable to Iran, rather than actually advancing our national goal”. | Kickstarting what is expected to be a concerted effort to undermine the accord over the next two months, Mitch McConnell, the Republican Senate majority leader, accused the White House of “reaching the best deal acceptable to Iran, rather than actually advancing our national goal”. |
| The Republican leader later took to the Senate floor to argue that the agreement had failed to meet the most basic requirements. | |
| “Remember: ending Iran’s nuclear program was supposed to be the point of these talks in the first place,” he said. “What’s already clear about this agreement is that it will not achieve – or even come close to achieving – that original purpose.” | “Remember: ending Iran’s nuclear program was supposed to be the point of these talks in the first place,” he said. “What’s already clear about this agreement is that it will not achieve – or even come close to achieving – that original purpose.” |
| Iran has agreed to dismantle much of its nuclear infrastructure and submit to rigorous controls and inspections which, the US and other world powers agree, significantly diminish the prospects of Tehran acquiring a nuclear weapon. | |
| Related: Iran nuclear deal: the key points | Related: Iran nuclear deal: the key points |
| The 159-page agreement, which includes a main text and five technical annexes, was unveiled in Vienna after weeks of marathon talks and sticks to the contours of a framework agreement sealed in April. | The 159-page agreement, which includes a main text and five technical annexes, was unveiled in Vienna after weeks of marathon talks and sticks to the contours of a framework agreement sealed in April. |
| But within hours of its announcement, Republicans and some Democratic hawks in Washington, who have long argued the bottom line is there should be no nuclear program on Iranian soil whatsoever, signaled their determination to sabotage an agreement they argue seeks to manage – rather than prevent – an Iranian nuclear program and endangers Israel. | But within hours of its announcement, Republicans and some Democratic hawks in Washington, who have long argued the bottom line is there should be no nuclear program on Iranian soil whatsoever, signaled their determination to sabotage an agreement they argue seeks to manage – rather than prevent – an Iranian nuclear program and endangers Israel. |
| Critics of the deal also contend that, over time, it will enable Iran to expand its military, including through the controversial acquisition of ballistic missiles. McConnell’s counterpart in the House of Representatives, speaker John Boehner, said the agreement would embolden Iran and be “likely to fuel a nuclear arms race around the world”. | Critics of the deal also contend that, over time, it will enable Iran to expand its military, including through the controversial acquisition of ballistic missiles. McConnell’s counterpart in the House of Representatives, speaker John Boehner, said the agreement would embolden Iran and be “likely to fuel a nuclear arms race around the world”. |
| “We will fight a bad deal that is wrong for our national security and wrong for our country,” he said. | “We will fight a bad deal that is wrong for our national security and wrong for our country,” he said. |
| Despite enjoying majorities in both the Senate and House, Republicans privately concede their options for blocking the agreement are extremely limited. | Despite enjoying majorities in both the Senate and House, Republicans privately concede their options for blocking the agreement are extremely limited. |
| Related: Iran nuclear deal: what will the US do now? | Related: Iran nuclear deal: what will the US do now? |
| Under the process for oversight agreed between the White House and the Congress back in April, Barack Obama has five days to formally present the deal and associated documents to the legislature. | Under the process for oversight agreed between the White House and the Congress back in April, Barack Obama has five days to formally present the deal and associated documents to the legislature. |
| That, in turn, will begin a 60-day congressional review period, after which both chambers will table a resolution to register their approval or disapproval of the deal. | That, in turn, will begin a 60-day congressional review period, after which both chambers will table a resolution to register their approval or disapproval of the deal. |
| However that vote will not be binding, and any serious attempt to thwart the agreement will require additional legislation specifically aimed at preventing the president from alleviating sanctions imposed on Tehran. | However that vote will not be binding, and any serious attempt to thwart the agreement will require additional legislation specifically aimed at preventing the president from alleviating sanctions imposed on Tehran. |
| Related: Obama vows to veto any Republican attempt to derail Iran nuclear deal | Related: Obama vows to veto any Republican attempt to derail Iran nuclear deal |
| Obama has promised to use his veto against “any legislation that prevents the successful implementation” of the deal. Congressional critics of the deal would therefore need to pass legislation with more than a two-thirds majority in both chambers – the threshold required to overcome a presidential veto. | Obama has promised to use his veto against “any legislation that prevents the successful implementation” of the deal. Congressional critics of the deal would therefore need to pass legislation with more than a two-thirds majority in both chambers – the threshold required to overcome a presidential veto. |
| White House officials say they are not complacent about the need to persuade lawmakers of the wisdom of the deal. But they appear optimistic that enough support remains among Democrats to guarantee that more than a third of lawmakers in both chambers stand by the president. | White House officials say they are not complacent about the need to persuade lawmakers of the wisdom of the deal. But they appear optimistic that enough support remains among Democrats to guarantee that more than a third of lawmakers in both chambers stand by the president. |
| “We’re confident in our ability to get the support necessary to ensure the successful implementation of the deal,” a senior administration official told reporters, on the condition of anonymity. “But we take nothing for granted and we want to make sure we’re making the case to these members.” | “We’re confident in our ability to get the support necessary to ensure the successful implementation of the deal,” a senior administration official told reporters, on the condition of anonymity. “But we take nothing for granted and we want to make sure we’re making the case to these members.” |
| That case appears to be rooted as much in what officials argue would be the dire consequences if the US now walked away from the agreement than the merits of the deal which, officials acknowledge, is a compromise deal stemming from two years of complex negotiations and deal-making. It seems doubtful such an argument – that the deal, while imperfect, is the least bad option on the table – is unlikely to persuade Republican critics. | That case appears to be rooted as much in what officials argue would be the dire consequences if the US now walked away from the agreement than the merits of the deal which, officials acknowledge, is a compromise deal stemming from two years of complex negotiations and deal-making. It seems doubtful such an argument – that the deal, while imperfect, is the least bad option on the table – is unlikely to persuade Republican critics. |
| Bob Corker, the Republican chair of the Senate foreign relations committee who forged the agreed-on oversight mechanisms with the White House, and will be a key figure in the weeks ahead, struck a decidedly pessimistic tone. | Bob Corker, the Republican chair of the Senate foreign relations committee who forged the agreed-on oversight mechanisms with the White House, and will be a key figure in the weeks ahead, struck a decidedly pessimistic tone. |
| “Throughout these negotiations, I have expressed significant concerns to the administration about the crossing of red line after red line as we have moved from a goal of dismantling Iran’s nuclear capabilities to managing its proliferation,” Corker said in a statement. “I want to read the agreement in detail and fully understand it, but I begin from a place of deep scepticism that the deal actually meets the goal of preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.” | “Throughout these negotiations, I have expressed significant concerns to the administration about the crossing of red line after red line as we have moved from a goal of dismantling Iran’s nuclear capabilities to managing its proliferation,” Corker said in a statement. “I want to read the agreement in detail and fully understand it, but I begin from a place of deep scepticism that the deal actually meets the goal of preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.” |
| Related: I'll vote for the Iran nuclear deal because I want peace, not war | Hank Johnson | Related: I'll vote for the Iran nuclear deal because I want peace, not war | Hank Johnson |
| The agreement comes at a pivotal moment in the electoral cycle, with candidates seeking the Democratic and Republican presidential nominations expected to be pressed on their position on the agreement. The division already appears to be falling along broadly partisan lines. | The agreement comes at a pivotal moment in the electoral cycle, with candidates seeking the Democratic and Republican presidential nominations expected to be pressed on their position on the agreement. The division already appears to be falling along broadly partisan lines. |
| The leading Democratic candidate, former secretary of state Hillary Clinton, is understood to have told a closed meeting of House Democrats on Capitol Hill that she endorsed the agreement. However she struck a more cautious tone while addressing the media after the meeting. | The leading Democratic candidate, former secretary of state Hillary Clinton, is understood to have told a closed meeting of House Democrats on Capitol Hill that she endorsed the agreement. However she struck a more cautious tone while addressing the media after the meeting. |
| “Based on what I know now, this is an important step in putting a lid on Iran’s nuclear program,” she said, adding there was still “a lot of concern” about Iran’s state-sponsored terrorism. “This agreement will have to be enforced vigorously, relentlessly.” | “Based on what I know now, this is an important step in putting a lid on Iran’s nuclear program,” she said, adding there was still “a lot of concern” about Iran’s state-sponsored terrorism. “This agreement will have to be enforced vigorously, relentlessly.” |
| The former secretary of state did not offer her endorsement publicly, ignoring a reporter who asked whether she was supportive of the deal or not. | The former secretary of state did not offer her endorsement publicly, ignoring a reporter who asked whether she was supportive of the deal or not. |
| Clinton’s main rival for the Democratic ticket, Vermont senator Bernie Sanders, was far less calibrated, declaring the deal “a victory for diplomacy over saber-rattling [that] could keep the United States from being drawn into another never-ending war in the Middle East”. | Clinton’s main rival for the Democratic ticket, Vermont senator Bernie Sanders, was far less calibrated, declaring the deal “a victory for diplomacy over saber-rattling [that] could keep the United States from being drawn into another never-ending war in the Middle East”. |
| In contrast, no Republican presidential candidate spoke in positive terms about the deal, and two leading Republican contenders – Florida senator Marco Rubio and Wisconsin governor Scott Walker – signaled that, if elected, they would seek to reverse the agreement. | In contrast, no Republican presidential candidate spoke in positive terms about the deal, and two leading Republican contenders – Florida senator Marco Rubio and Wisconsin governor Scott Walker – signaled that, if elected, they would seek to reverse the agreement. |
| “Failure by the president to obtain congressional support will tell the Iranians and the world that this is Barack Obama’s deal, not an agreement with lasting support from the United States,” Rubio, a member of the Senate foreign relations committee, said in a statement. | “Failure by the president to obtain congressional support will tell the Iranians and the world that this is Barack Obama’s deal, not an agreement with lasting support from the United States,” Rubio, a member of the Senate foreign relations committee, said in a statement. |
| Related: Jeb Bush denounces Iran nuclear deal as appeasement | Related: Jeb Bush denounces Iran nuclear deal as appeasement |
| Former Florida governor Jeb Bush, another frontrunner, did not specifically say what action he would take if elected but said described the deal as “dangerous, deeply flawed, and short sighted”. | Former Florida governor Jeb Bush, another frontrunner, did not specifically say what action he would take if elected but said described the deal as “dangerous, deeply flawed, and short sighted”. |
| “The clerical leaders in Tehran routinely preach ‘death to America’ and ‘death to Israel’ – and through their acts of terror, they mean it,” he said. “This isn’t diplomacy – it is appeasement.” | “The clerical leaders in Tehran routinely preach ‘death to America’ and ‘death to Israel’ – and through their acts of terror, they mean it,” he said. “This isn’t diplomacy – it is appeasement.” |