Will US Election Results Undermine Iran Nuclear Talks?
November 06, 2014 8:34 AM
Foreign policy – apart from scaremongering about Ebola and terrorism – was not a major issue in U.S. midterm elections. But the imminent Republican takeover of the Senate could impact whether the international community and Iran agree to a landmark deal in talks that are nearing a November 24 deadline.
Iran is being asked to put long-term limitations on its nuclear activities in return for relief of nuclear-related sanctions. While President Barack Obama can provide that relief on a short-term basis through the use of executive orders and presidential waivers, ultimately Congress would be asked to repeal some sanctions and to allow a key piece of legislation – the Iran Sanctions Act – to expire at the end of 2016.
At this juncture, it isn’t clear what priority incoming majority leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), will give to the Iran issue. Two years ago, he expressed support for authorizing the use of force against Iran if it developed nuclear weapons.
Other senators, especially Mark Kirk (R-Ill) and Foreign Relations Committee chairman Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), have sponsored legislation that would impose new sanctions on Iran if no nuclear deal is reached by an unspecified date. On Sunday, McConnell was quoted as saying that "what we ought to do, if we can’t get an acceptable agreement with the Iranians, is tighten the sanctions.”
In the past, Democratic leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), and the Democratic chairmen of other key committees, were able to fend off new Iran sanctions bills that would have disrupted nuclear negotiations. Menendez, in the end, followed party discipline but may feel freer to oppose the White House more aggressively with the Republicans in charge.
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