|
 McConnell, a Republican, told his weekly news conference that he
intended to have the bill debated and potentially voted on in the
Senate next week. His remarks set up a potential showdown with
Democrats, who want to allow more time for negotiations with Iran.
"We think the timing is important," McConnell said. "We think it
will help prevent the administration from entering into a bad deal.
But if they do, it will provide an opportunity for Congress to weigh
in."
McConnell was speaking shortly after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu warned the United States it was negotiating a bad deal
with Tehran.
 The White House has said Obama would veto the Iran Nuclear Review
Act, which was introduced by Republican Senator Bob Corker, chairman
of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Democratic Senator
Robert Menendez, the top Democrat on the panel.
The measure would give Congress 60 days to consider, and potentially
reject, a deal after it was announced. It is more popular with
Democrats than legislation to impose tougher sanctions on Tehran and
thus might stand a better chance of winning enough votes to survive
a veto.
Menendez said later on Tuesday that he would vote against a motion
to move the bill ahead because he was angry at McConnell for rushing
it to the floor, which would bypass the normal committee review
process.
"I am more than disappointed. I’m outraged," Menendez said in a
Senate speech.
[to top of second column] |
Harry Reid, the top Democrat in the Senate, suggested that lawmakers
wait to debate the bill until they know what has happened in the
talks.
Iran and international powers have set a deadline of late March to
reach a framework agreement and June for a comprehensive final
settlement. The powers want to curb Iran's nuclear program to ensure
it cannot develop an atomic bomb, and Iran wants crippling economic
sanctions to be lifted.
The Senate may also consider within weeks a bill to impose stricter
sanctions on Iran. That measure also faces a veto threat. The
administration says any attempt to toughen sanctions now could
prompt Iran, and possibly other countries involved in the talks, to
give up on negotiations.
(Reporting by Richard Cowan and Patricia Zengerle; Editing by Eric
Beech, Andrew Hay and Mohammad Zargham)
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