Senators Work to Defang “Reckless” Iran Bill

Reckless and unnecessary - Democrats are pushing back against the Corker-Menendez legislation, arguing that passing the bill as it’s currently written will kill chances for a good nuclear deal.

--“To force Congress to weigh in now on the Iran nuclear talks before a final deal has been completed would be a reckless rush to judgment," Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) wrote to Senator Bob Corker (R-TN), lead author of the bill. "It would undermine negotiations at a critical moment and could derail a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to deal with this looming threat.” http://1.usa.gov/1Do4vcr

--“Senator Corker’s legislation undermines these international negotiations and represents an unnecessary hurdle to achieving a strong, final agreement. In the weeks ahead, we must give this diplomatic framework room to succeed so that we can judge a June 30th agreement on its merits,” said House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi in a press statement. http://1.usa.gov/1FqKbns

Fixes - Sen. Benjamin Cardin (D-MD), filling in for Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) as Senate Foreign Relations Committee ranking member, says he’s working with SFRC chair Sen. Bob Corker to “smooth out” the rough edges of Sen. Corker’s Iran bill.

--Sen. Cardin’s particular concerns include provisions requiring Iran to renounce terrorism and preventing the president from suspending sanctions for two months, potentially delaying implementation of the final deal. Nicole Gaudiano for USA Today. http://usat.ly/1ccMOCm

One less poison pill - One of deal-killing provisions in the Corker bill allows Congress to reinstate nuclear-related sanctions if Iran’s support for terrorism continues. Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE) plans to introduce an amendment removing that provision, making the bill slightly less objectionable to the White House and supporters of a diplomatic solution. From The Hill. http://bit.ly/1H7QelA

No better deal - “Under this agreement, every step of Iran’s nuclear program will be under surveillance. From the uranium mines to the enrichment facilities, Iran’s program will be under an international microscope designed to prevent diversion and detect covert activities. Inspectors will have access to a wider range of Iran’s facilities and can conduct short-notice visits to verify compliance.”

--Kelsey Davenport in The Times of Israel dissects the myths and facts of the framework agreement, from inspections to breakout times to past nuclear work, and other details of the framework. http://bit.ly/1JswgkJ

Moving goal posts - “If the result is an agreement that credibly keeps Iran from making a bomb, it shouldn't be held hostage to other changes in Iran's behavior. Those who insist on linking the agreement to other issues aren't just moving the goal post; they're changing the playing field,” writes the LA Times in an editorial. http://lat.ms/1Gth3BE

Remaining challenges - The Obama administration “will have to deal with three major challenges as it attempts to finalize an agreement: (1) a skeptical U.S. Congress; (2) nervous Middle Eastern allies; and (3) the negotiations themselves,” writes Ilan Goldenberg for War On The Rocks.

--Despite these hurdles, ”momentum is building and every step of the way it becomes increasingly likely that, against tough odds, the United States and Iran will achieve a historic breakthrough.” http://bit.ly/1JsxpJa

Progressives rally behind deal - “Senate Democrats are now faced with a choice: Support President Obama's diplomacy or vote with Republicans to potentially start a war with Iran. There is no third option,” write progressive groups CREDO, Daily Kos, Democracy for America, MoveOn.org Political Action and USAction in a letter to Senate Democratic leadership.

--“We will hold accountable members of your caucus who vote with Republicans to pass [the Corker review bill or Kirk sanctions bill.] We urge you to support the diplomatic process, and ensure that Democrats don’t deliver the Republicans the votes they need to override a presidential veto of diplomacy-killing legislation and begin yet another war of choice in the Middle East.” Full text (pdf): http://bit.ly/1EbPHya

Extraordinary agreement - “There are three reasons why this accord was unlikely: the record of US intelligence, the state of US policy when President Obama took office, and the innovative safeguards applied,” writes Adam Mount in The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists.

--“Much had to go right to get the world to this point, but the agreement serves as strong evidence that persistence and tough diplomacy can create opportunities that mere obstinacy will never see.” http://bit.ly/1CugpN3

Quick Hits:

--”White House Trolls Netanyahu on Iran with Bomb Graphic” by David Knowles for Bloomberg. http://bloom.bg/1Fr5wgA

--“No, North Korea Does Not Prove the Iran Deal Is Doomed” by Jessica Schulberg in The Huffington Post. http://huff.to/1FqWLTU

-- “Ernest Moniz: Iran Deal Closes Enrichment Loophole,” by Michael Crowley in Politico. http://politi.co/1DHaqeu

Events:

--Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, hearing on the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) budget. With Frank Klotz, Administrator, NNSA; and four other witnesses. April 15 at 2:30 PM. Located at 222 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington Dc. Webcast on the committee website. http://1.usa.gov/1FLDB07

--“Politics of a Nuclear Deal: Former U.S. & Iranian Officials Debate.” Featuring Stephen J. Hadley, Ali-Akbar Mousavi, Jim Slattery, Howard Berman and Michael Singh. April 20, 9:30-11:00am, U.S. Institute of Peace. Register online. http://bit.ly/19YuB9N

--House Armed Services Committee, markup of the annual National Defense Authorization Act, which includes the nuclear weapons and nonproliferation programs of the National Nuclear Security Administration. April 29 at 10:00 AM. Located at 2118 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC. Webcast on the committee website. http://armedservices.house.gov/