July 20, 2015
The United Nations Security Council unanimously approved the Iran nuclear deal on Monday. The deal appears to grant Iran generous concessions without, as many believe, enough accountability, and it has garnered great concern both in Israel and among the United States Congress. Iran remains Israel’s biggest threat, and the anti-America language frequently spoken in Tehran gives evidence that the nation is a threat to the U.S. as well.
It is not surprising, then, that when President Obama gave his endorsement of the U.N. decision later that same day, it upset some members of the U.S. Congress which has yet to review the agreement. The members are not happy that the president spoke for the nation without consideration for the congressional review process designed to reflect the nation’s opinion on the matter.
Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Corker had pointed words for the premature hailing of U.N. acceptance of the controversial nuclear deal hashed out between Iran and the P5+1 nations.
Contrary and inappropriate
“The administration’s decision to endorse this agreement at the U.N. prior to a vote in Congress on behalf of the American people is contrary to the spirit of the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act, which was supported by overwhelming majorities of the House and Senate and signed by the president,” Corker stated (Times of Israel).
Obama claimed “broad international consensus around the issue” and noted that his “working assumption is that Congress will pay attention to that broad basic consensus” (Times of Israel).
“It is inappropriate,” Corker’s statement continued, “to commit the United States to meet certain international obligations without even knowing if Congress and the American people approve or disapprove of the Iran agreement” (Times of Israel).
According to the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act, signed into law by President Obama, Congress has 60 days to review the agreement and then vote their conscience about it. If the Senate votes to disapprove the deal by less than a two-thirds majority, the president can veto it, which he stated beforehand that he would do.
Sidestepping Congress and disregard for Israel’s safety
Corker’s comments allude not only to congressional concerns about the deal itself but also regarding Obama’s apparent sidestepping the checks and balances aspect of American government, namely the legislature. At the same time, Israel remains alert to consistent U.N. disregard for the validity and urgency of Iran’s very real threat to Israel’s existence as a nation.
Concern over the U.N.’s hurried vote spread across both sides of the congressional aisle in Washington. A joint statement by Republican chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee Representative Ed Royce and the committee’s ranking member, Democratic Representative Eliot Engle expressed disappointment in the U.N. for putting the matter to a vote before Congress had the opportunity to review the contents of the agreement.
Last week Royce and Engle urged the president to postpone the Security Council’s vote until Congress could properly do their jobs in reviewing and voting to support or disapprove of the deal. In a letter to the president they explained that they were “deeply concerned that your administration plans to enable the United Nations Security Council to vote on the agreement before the United States Congress can do the same.” They continued, “Doing so would be contrary to your statement that ‘it’s important for the American people and Congress to get a full opportunity to review this deal… our national security policies are stronger and more effective when they are subject to the scrutiny and transparency that democracy demands’” (Times of Israel).
Lifting Sanctions
With Monday’s vote, the Security Council is poised to lift U.N. imposed sanctions on Iran. However, as Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu notes, the U.S. Congress can still vote to retain the U.S. sanctions on Iran (Israel National News). Nor does the U.N. action affect the sanctions independently imposed on Iran by the European Union (The New York Times). Netanyahu stated that the Council’s vote to approve the deal is not the “end of the story” (Israel National News).
Pray for Israel
Please pray for Israel concerning this international agreement made with Israel’s greatest enemy and biggest threat, Iran. Pray that the U.S. Congress review of the deal would expose any weaknesses and irresponsible concessions that would allow Iran to continue secretively developing weapons with which to carry out its vow to destroy Israel. Pray for wisdom as members of Congress study it, interpret it, and craft their statements about it.
Please continue to pray for Israel’s protection and safety as well as wisdom for Netanyahu, the Knesset (Israel’s ruling body), and military leaders who are all committed to protecting Israel and her citizens.
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem— “May those who love you be at peace! May there be shalom within your walls— quietness within your palaces.”
—Psalm 122:6-7
