Roskam challenges Obama to release side agreements on Iran proposal

WASHINGTON, DC— Congressman Peter Roskam (IL-06), co-chair of the House Republican Israel Caucus, called on the Obama Administration to release the contents of two side agreements negotiated between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

As required by the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015 (INARA), the measure directs the House Parliamentarian to not recognize the 60-day congressional review period until the side agreements are transmitted to Congress. It also prohibits the President from lifting statutory sanctions against Iran until Congress has the opportunity to both fully review the JCPOA and related documents, including side agreements, and to vote on a disapproval resolution.

Click here to read the full resolution.

“In May, the House and Senate overwhelmingly passed and President Obama signed into law the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act, which requires the Administration transmit to Congress all documents related to the JCPOA —including side agreements—prior to a 60-day review period and subsequent vote,” Roskam’s office said in a statement.

A day after the nuclear accord was announced, reports surfaced that Iran and the IAEA struck two side agreements related to Tehran’s past nuclear work. In what Roskam calls a “clear violation of federal law,” repeated requests from leading Democrats and Republicans to review the side agreements were rebuffed by the Obama Administration.

“Congressional briefings provided by Administration officials are a legally insufficient substitute for providing the actual text of these documents,” Roskam said. “Therefore, I raise a question of the privileges of the House insisting that, until the Administration complies with the law, Congress should not vote. All Members of Congress, regardless of their position on the nuclear deal, should demand the robust and transparent review process necessary to cast a fully informed vote.”