House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce is demanding to see the so-called the ‘side deals’ between the Iranian regime and the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog.
In the letter to Secretary of State John Kerry, Royce writes it is “imperative” that these agreements be submitted to Congress as it is debating the Iran nuclear agreement.
Chairman Ed Royce says that “while this may not be typical IAEA practice, there is nothing typical about the Iranian threat or this nuclear agreement.
“Reviewing these side agreements is critical to Congress understanding whether Iran intends to pass that test,” he writes.
Chairman Ed Royce adds: “It is clear to me that this issue deserves more scrutiny by the Committee”.
“Indeed, all Members of Congress should have access to the separate arrangements negotiated between Iran and the IAEA.”
“The ‘separate arrangement’ agreed to between the IAEA and Iran regarding inspection of the facilities at Parchin will almost certainly be regarded by Tehran as a precedent for IAEA access to future suspicious sites in Iran.”
“I have little doubt that ‘side deals’ of today will become central to the agreement’s verification provisions tomorrow.”
“These ‘separate arrangements’ have the potential to seriously weaken our ability to verify the agreement as a whole.”
The White House has called the “arrangements” between the IAEA and states standard and confidential. But Republicans, and some Democrats, argue that the administration is required to submit the “side agreements” to Congress for review.
The Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act allows Congress 60 days to review the Iran nuclear agreement, which would lift sanctions in exchange for limits on Tehran’s nuclear development program. Congress can submit a resolution of approval, disapproval, or take no action.
A resolution of disapproval would prohibit the White House from lifting U.S. sanctions on Iran, which supporters of the agreement say would kill the entire deal. Obama is expected to veto the resolution if it passes, however.
Senators are due to receive a closed briefing on the side deals on Wednesday by the director general of the IAEA.
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