Thune says Congress should have say in Trump Iran deal as GOP uneasy

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) said Tuesday he expects Congress to likely vote on any broader Iran deal that emerges from the Trump administration’s 60-day negotiating window, but he doesn’t yet know what form that vote will take.

“If an agreement is reached, I would expect Congress to have some kind of vote on this at some point,” Thune told reporters. he said. “Whether it’s a disapproval vote or something else, I don’t know the answer to that,” he added.

Asked what role Congress should play in approving the results of the talks, Thune said many senators were still “anxious to get more information” from officials involved in the talks.

There is growing pressure from Republicans on the White House to involve Congress and possibly submit the final Iran deal to the legislature for review.

Many GOP senators praised Trump’s efforts to end the conflict and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, but they also expressed concerns about possible sanctions relief, a freeze on Iran’s assets, a proposed reconstruction fund and whether Tehran would agree to enforceable limits on its nuclear program.

Last week, Thune told reporters that nuclear components of the deal could trigger congressional notification requirements.

Thune’s comments Tuesday came as the Senate prepares to vote on a war powers resolution that would block additional U.S. military action against Iran.

The United States and Iran met in Switzerland last weekend, along with representatives from Pakistan and Qatar, to discuss the terms of a final agreement and an end to hostilities in Lebanon involving Israel.