President Obama begins the arduous task of selling his nuclear agreement with Iran to a skeptical Congress, but it became even more difficult with his decision to let the United Nations have the first say on this agreement instead of Congress.
On Monday, the United Nations Security council voted 15-0, which sets the stage for the U.N. to begin lifting economic sanctions against Iran.
The Security Council’s resolution is legally binding but it only applies to United Nations sanctions and not sanctions imposed by the United States and the European Union, but this could be problematic as Germany has already begun to revive once closed economic ties with Iran.
German Economy Minister Sigmar Gabriel, made the first trip to Tehran in 15 years, but his efforts depend on improved relations with Israel.
“With the recent nuclear agreement and the future events, new issues will be raised for Iran and we have developed the basis, both inside and outside the country, to produce security in the Middle East, and I believe it is for the benefit of Iran as well. Developing security in the region and the security of the state of Israel is of significant importance to us.”
Iran’s Oil Minister, Bijan Namdar Zangeneh, speaking about business stated, “We hope to move fast after the sanctions are removed and it seems like the German companies and state have political determination to help Iran put the era of depression behind it, we have never had tense relations with Germany.”
President Obama’s decision to go first to the United Nations could be a play to neutralize Congress, because once the United Nations lifts sanctions against Iran, all others including the European Union, Russia and China will begin doing business with Tehran.
Richard Haass, President of the Council on Foreign Relations, while being interviewed by Mika Brzezinski of MSNBC stated, “I think what the administration was hoping to do with the U.N. vote
I don’t think it will work. I think Congress will vote the way it votes, but what it also shows is, if the U.S. decides not to go along with the agreement, where the rest of the world is, we’re not exactly on the same page. It sends a message that everyone else is on board with this deal…
This agreement in no way solves the Iranian nuclear conundrum. All it does is it buys you ten or fifteen years at a certain price. It potentially makes the aftermath more difficult, and it clearly makes the next ten or fifteen years more difficult when it comes to Iran’s regional activity.”
Even if Congress ultimately rejects this agreement, it leaves the United States in a precarious situation as the only country that would still have sanctions on Iran, while all other nations would be doing business with Tehran.
President Obama stated last week that, “If Iran violates the deal, all of these sanctions will snap back into place. So there’s a very clear incentive for Iran to follow through, and there are very real consequences for a violation.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Chinese have already stated that once the sanctions are lifted they will not be re-imposed. This is another area the president will have to address with Congress.
Even members of the president’s own party questioned the wisdom of Obama to go to the United Nations first, with The Hill reporting, Rep. Eliot Engel (N.Y.), the top Democrat on the Foreign Affairs Committee, joined panel Chairman Ed Royce (R-Calif.) in a statement saying they were “disappointed” that the U.N. Security Council voted “before Congress was able to fully review and act on this agreement.”
“Regardless of this morning’s outcome, Congress will continue to play its role,” they added.
The agreement by the United Nations leaves a 90-day grace period before sanctions can begin to be lifted, still leaving Congress 60 days to review the agreement.
White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest told reporters, “That’s an indication that the administration continues to be serious about the responsibility we have to make sure members of Congress have the information they need to consider this agreement over the course of the next 60 days.”
Earnest continued, that 90-day window “is specifically to allow Congress ample time to conduct their review of the agreement.”
Now as the president begins to sell this deal he is going to have to answer a few questions on how this agreement will be implemented and verified.
First, do we know where Iran’s entire nuclear infrastructure is located, and how far they have progressed to date?
Second, how will international inspectors enter Iranian military facilities, and can they enter all facilities? Will there be “anytime anywhere inspections,” as Deputy, National Security Advisor Ben Rhodes made this statement in April, but then the administration seemed to have a different tune this month.
Now part of the agreement allows Tehran to have 24 days to approve such requests, again the administration will have to clarify this aspect.
Finally, why was lifting of the conventional arms embargo after five years, and the missile embargo after eight years, inserted at the last moment to this deal? This part is in the back drop of Iran fermenting conflict throughout the Middle East region, especially after the highly charged comments by Iran’s leader Ali Khamenei.
President Obama has a tough sell job ahead with Congress, as well as his own party.
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