Senate

IAEA to brief senators on Iran deal

by Jordain Carney - 07/31/15 6:36 PM ET

The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the organization at the heart of the controversy in Congress over “side-deals” in the Iran nuclear agreement, will brief the Foreign Relations Committee next week.

Sens. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), the chairman of the committee, and Ben Cardin (D-Md.), the committee’s ranking member, said IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano will meet with senators Wednesday.

{mosads}“In order for Congress to be fully informed on the details and implications of the Iran nuclear deal, it is critical that we have an understanding of the IAEA’s role in implementing the nuclear agreement with Iran,” the two senators said Friday afternoon in a statement.

The two agreements between the IAEA and Iran have been a key focal point for Republican opposition to the Iran nuclear deal, as well as a point of concern for undecided Democrats.

Members of the Foreign Relations Committee previously wrote a letter to Amano, and Corker and Cardin said Friday that they were “pleased” he and agreed to meet with them.

“We look forward to discussing the IAEA’s monitoring and verifying of Iran’s nuclear-related obligations under the [joint comprehensive plan of action],” they added.

The briefing with lawmakers comes after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) demanded the administration turn over the so-called “side” agreements between Iran and IAEA.

McConnell said Thursday he had yet to receive the text of the deals, adding that that the delay is “simply not acceptable.”

Meanwhile, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), who is running for president, has introduced a resolution arguing that because Obama didn’t hand over the deals to Congress, the 60-day review period shouldn’t have started yet.

The administration has pledged to brief Congress on the agreements in closed-door sessions. On Friday, Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz backed Amano’s decision, telling reporters that “I’m personally quite pleased that he’s following up on that in a timely way. I think it will be very helpful.”

Tags Ben Cardin Bob Corker Boehner Ernest Moniz John Boehner Mitch McConnell Ted Cruz