GOP lawmakers are demanding President Barack Obama give Congress details of the side deals related to the Iran nuclear arms deal.
In a letter dated Aug. 4, 94 House of Representatives members, along with House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R.-Calif., called the lack of details "no small matter."
"As you yourself have made clear, the agreement is 'not based on trust, but on verification'," the lawmakers write. "The issue of how we will verify that Iran is being truthful about its activities at potential nuclear sites will determine whether the [Joint Comprehnsive Plan of Action] can ultimately succeed."
At least two undisclosed agreements have been reached between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency, the organization responsible for ensuring that Tehran abides by the stipulations in the deal, the lawmakers write.
The deals pertain to the IAEA’s inspection of Iran’s Parchin military complex believed to have housed nuclear testing as well as the extent to which Tehran must admit to the details of its alleged nuclear weapons program, the
Washington Free Beacon notes.
"Under the clear language of the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act, which you signed into law, members of Congress are entitled to the text of these two side deals," the lawmakers write.
"Specifically, members have a right to all 'annexes, appendices, codicils, side agreements, implementing materials, documents, and guidance, technical or other understandings and any related agreements, whether entered into or implemented prior to the agreement or to be entered into or implemented in the future.'
"Congress’s legal right to these documents creates a corresponding legal obligation for your administration to provide them for our review."
The letter follows Arkansas Republican Sen. Tom Cotton and Kansas Republican Rep. Mike Pompeo's commentary in the
Wall Street Journal accusing Obama of breaking the law by refusing to disclose the side deals.
Congress has until mid-September to review the Iran deal. Lawmakers would have to pass a resolution to kill the agreement, which would need two-thirds majority support in order to override an expected veto from Obama.
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