UN’s Preemptive Approval Of Iran Nuke Deal Rankles Congress, Foreign Policy Hawks

The U.N. Security Council unanimously approved the Iran nuclear deal Monday, raising questions about Congress’ power to block U.S. participation.

Since before the deal was signed, leaders on Capitol Hill have insisted that a multilateral agreement with Iran constitutes a treaty, and therefore requires Congressional approval.

The New York Times reported Monday that during nuclear negotiations in Vienna, Secretary of State John Kerry pressed his counterparts to keep the Security Council from voting to lift sanctions on Iran until Congress had a chance to voice approval.

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But critics say that in going behind Congress’ back, President Barack Obama is setting a dangerous precedent. 

Cliff May, president of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, called the move “an unprecedented and historic surrender of American sovereignty” in an email to The Daily Caller News Foundation.

May went on to speculate that “Obama may be arranging it so the agreement, as adopted by the [Security Council], requests but does not mandate that the US lift its sanctions.” That way, he says, if Congress eventually votes to reject the deal and retain American sanctions against Iran, the U.N. can accuse the U.S. of “violating the spirit” of the internationally-brokered agreement.

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