Some Republicans are trying to toughen the language of the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015 by adding amendments before the measure comes up for a vote perhaps as early as this week,
The Hill reported.
The agreement is the outcome of bipartisan efforts led by senators on the Foreign Relations Committee, including Republican Chairman Bob Corker, New Jersey Democrat Robert Menendez, and Maryland Democrat Ben Cardin. It has the support of 62 other senators.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said the bill would "be open for amendment and those who seek to improve it will have an opportunity to do so," according to The Hill.
Republican presidential candidate Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, a member of the Foreign Relations Committee, and Illinois Republican Sen. Mark Kirk want to amend the Corker-Cardin deal to require President Barack Obama to certify that Iran no longer seeks the destruction of Israel. Annihilating the Jewish state is an essential tenet of
Iran's foreign policy.
Another Foreign Relations Committee member, Republican Sen. James Risch of Idaho, would condition the nuclear deal on the release of U.S. citizens being held by the Islamic Republic, including Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian.
Wyoming Republican Sen. John Barrasso, also a committee member, would require that Obama certify Iran no longer sponsors terrorism. Iran is a
longstanding state sponsor of international terrorism.
Various other amendments would require higher thresholds than the current 34 senators needed for passage.
One by Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, also a Republican presidential candidate, would require a majority from both houses of Congress for passage. Another would insist that the deal be handled as a treaty and require 67 senators for ratification, The Hill reported.
The agreement was sent to the floor with unanimous and bipartisan support by the Foreign Relations Committee. Cardin, the ranking member, said he would try to maintain a bipartisan approach toward the amendments. Menendez, the former ranking member, urged his colleagues to "suppress any intentions that would drive this to a point that we can't have that strong vote," The Hill reported.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., urged senators to leave the measure as is. "Anyone that monkeys with this bill will run into a buzz saw," he said.
The country's main
pro-Israel lobby has come out in support of the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015 as is.
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.