Kerry to brief senators on Iran deal

Secretary of State John Kerry will head to Capitol Hill Tuesday morning to brief senators on the framework deal on Iran’s nuclear program. 

Marie Harf, the acting spokesperson at the State Department, said the secretary will “really get into all of the details” during the closed meeting. 

Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz and Treasury Secretary Jack Lew will also brief accompany Kerry. The three officials are also expected to meet with House Democrats Tuesday morning.

{mosads}The briefings are part of an all-out push by the White House to sell lawmakers on the framework deal, and convince them to hold off on passing Iran legislation until after June 30. Negotiators have until then to finalize a deal. 

Harf said that Kerry has already “spoken to a number of senators,” including Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) and Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.), the committee’s top Democrat.

The panel is expected to vote on a bill from Corker and Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) that would give Congress 60 days to review any deal and prevent the administration from rolling back sanction on Iran during that window.

Both Republican and Democratic members of the committee have filed amendments that are likely to spark a contentious debate during the mark up. 

White House press secretary Josh Earnest told reporters Monday that administration officials have made more than 130 calls to members of Congress to brief them on Iran. 

Tuesday’s meetings will follow a briefing for all House lawmakers on Monday evening. 

House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) said Monday morning that the House would take up that legislation if it passes the Senate.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has pledged to bring it up for a vote. Supporters will need 67 votes to override a potential veto, including support from 13 Democrats. But Senate Democrats suggested last week that their support for legislation is wavering following the announcement of the framework deal. 

President Obama has repeatedly said that he will veto the legislation if it reaches his desk before the deadline for negotiations.