Iranian MPs answer to U.S. Senate with bill to stop nuclear talks

/By AzerNews/

By Sara Rajabova

Every time Iran and the world powers stand on the eve of an important nuclear talks those forces that are dissatisfied with the ongoing processes - the resolution of a decades-old nuclear dispute, try to hamper such negotiations, especially now that they are nearing their final stage.

More than most the parliaments of the two most uncompromising forces – the United States and Iran, have taken steps which could complicate the work of nuclear negotiators and cause a loss of confidence between the negotiating sides.

While, the U.S. and Iran administrations are interested in continuing their nuclear talks in keeping with the self-imposedJune deadline, the legislative bodies of these two countries don’t believe in the successful finalization of the talks.

Hardliners are also skeptical that any agreement can actually survive any actual implementation on the ground, should a deal be indeed reached.

Though the White House is determined to finalize nuclear negotiations, the Congress is not a supporter of the White House's Iran policy.

Congress has threatened to impose new sanctions aiming to bring Iran to its knees at the negotiating table or produce pieces of legislation enabling it to have oversight over any nuclear deal, should it be inked.

However, such steps by Capitol Hill did not go unnoticed in Tehran.

Iran’s Majlis, in turn, hit back with retaliatory measures threatening to cease all negotiations.

Iranian lawmakers have introduced a bill to the Parliament’s Board of Directors which calls for an immediate halt to the ongoing talks with the U.S.

This came as the U.S. Senate passed on May 7 a legislation giving the Congress a right to review a nuclear deal with Iran.

The U.S. House of Representatives is expected to hold a vote on the measure this week.

The Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act would require U.S. President Barack Obama to submit any final nuclear deal with Iran to the U.S. Congress for a full review. During the review period, the president will not be able to waive or suspend congressional sanctions on Tehran. If Congress rejects the final deal, Obama can override the ruling with his veto, which would require a super-majority of two-thirds of both the House and Senate to overcome.

Iranian parliament’s triple-urgency Bill was signed by 80 lawmakers, IRNA news agency reported.

“The government, foreign policy officials, and members of the nuclear negotiations team are obliged to halt any relations or talks with the U.S. on the nuclear issue as long as the U.S. government has not abandoned its threatening stance toward the Iranian nation. But it is to continue the talks with the rest of the group P5+1,” the bill said.

The Bill claims to defend the “greatness, integrity, and identity” of the Iranian nation.