The U.S. State Department on Sunday officially transferred to American lawmakers the complex text of an Iran nuclear deal, firing the starting gun on what is set to be a bitter Congress battle.
Top U.S. administration officials are girding for a huge fight with the Republican-controlled Congress, which, while it cannot modify the terms of the historic deal, can vote to approve or disapprove the accord.
“Day One of the 60-day review period begins tomorrow, Monday, July 20,” State Department spokesman John Kirby said, after revealing the bureau had “transmitted to Congress the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, its annexes and related materials.”
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In duelling appearances with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the Sunday morning U.S. talk shows, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz defended the accord which they helped negotiate.
German Minister’s visit Also, German Economy Minister Sigmar Gabriel, who is also the country’s Vice-Chancellor, arrived in Iran with an economic delegation on Sunday, becoming the first high-ranking Western politician to visit the country after it struck a nuclear deal with world powers.
By travelling to Tehran with a delegation of industry group representatives and company officials, Mr. Gabriel sends a strong signal that Germany wants to quickly rebuild economic and political ties with Iran after a 12-year standoff over Tehran’s nuclear programme.
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Mr. Gabriel will hold talks with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and several Ministers during his three-day trip to Iran.
Mr. Gabriel told German newspaper Bild he would use the trip to suggest that Germany could be a mediator between Iran and its arch-enemy Israel and said he would insist that the Iranian government recognise Israel’s right to exist.