September 16, 2015 | Quote

What’s Next on Iran

The Post reports:

Senate Democrats on Tuesday blocked a second Republican attempt to pass a resolution disapproving of the Iran nuclear deal.

But Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) is hardly giving up the fight, moving to schedule a Thursday vote on rolling back sanctions on Iran until the Islamic Republic recognizes Israel’s right to exist and releases American prisoners being held in the country. That set includes The Washington Post’s Iran correspondent, Jason Rezaian.

It’s a tactic aimed at forcing an up-or-down vote on the nuclear pact and getting Democrats directly on the record supporting what Republicans hope will be politically unpopular. The deadline for congressional action on the deal is Thursday — Sept. 17.

Some suggest the “nuclear option” — i.e. doing away with the filibuster — but even if advisable it would not get the Senate to 67 votes to override. And remember the House decided not to vote under the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act (instead taking a vote outside the Cardin-Corker legislative scheme) so there would be little point.

That does not mean Congress is entirely powerless either to improve our position now or to help the next president pull the plug on the deal.

Sanctions guru Mark Dubowitz of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies suggests Congress designate Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps as a foreign terrorist organization. He explains as a practical matter this would mean that “any company doing business in Iran with the IRGC would be doing business with a terrorism organization.” Even the degree to which the IRGC has infiltrated the Iranian economy, this would act as a backstop once sanctions are lifted, slowing the Iranian economy’s recovery. Alternatively (or in addition) Dubowitz recommends “Congressional sanctions that would automatically snap back if Iran is found in violation of any provision of the JCPOA [Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action].” In any event, he urges, “Legislation should also establish a congressional commission to oversee the enforcement of [the Iran deal] with permanent staff with appropriate clearances.”

… 

Read the full article here.

Issues:

Iran Iran Sanctions