Berlin: The Obama administration has no intention of cutting Congress out of the loop on any possible deal with Iran over its nuclear program, US Secretary of State John Kerry said Wednesday, responding to rising concerns from lawmakers in both parties.
Kerry dismissed recent reports of possible attempts to bypass Congress, saying both he and President Barack Obama believe that “Congress has an extremely important role to play in this and Congress will play a role in this.”
With a Nov. 24 deadline for an accord looming, Iran is maintaining a tough line on much of the nuclear infrastructure it says is for peaceful energy production, but which world powers worry may be designed to develop atomic weapons.
Obama’s negotiators are offering the Iranians relief from economic sanctions yet are struggling to convince the US Congress to cooperate.
Both Democrats and Republicans in Congress are becoming increasingly concerned they may be bypassed, while the administration has argued that some steps - like the suspension of sanctions - could be decided upon by the president alone.
“In the first instance, we would look to suspend sanctions, which the president can do, simply because that’s the necessary way to proceed with respect to the negotiations themselves,” Kerry said Wednesday, insisting “that does not in any way write Congress out of the process.”
Kerry said he has held regular talks with members of Congress and anticipates hearings and more “back and forth” with lawmakers.
“We look forward to serious and deep Congressional engagement in this effort,” he said.
With impatience rising in both Iran and the US as the deadline for a deal approaches, Washington and Tehran each have spoken vaguely about a second extension of the talks in four months.
Kerry would not give specific details about sticking points, saying he did not want to negotiate in public. He did say both sides “have negotiated in intensive and serious and respectful ways.”
“I will express hope - not optimism - hope that we can bridge the gaps that still exist,” he said.
