Obama blinks on Iran deal

In the standoff with Congress over the Iranian nuclear deal, President Obama just blinked. Now the US Congress will have a say on a nuclear deal with Iran, under a new agreement reached with the White House.

Faced with the prospect of a backlash from members of Obama's own party on his signature foreign policy initiative, the White House said it'd be willing to sign a bill that will prevent the administration from lifting sanctions on Iran while Congress reviews whatever final deal is reached with Tehran over its nuclear program.

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The bill was passed unanimously, 19-0, by members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, of which declared Republican presidential candidates Marco Rubio and Rand Paul are members.

However, a Congressional No vote would not be binding and could be vetoed by Obama.

An outline agreement on the future shape of Iran's nuclear programme was reached after marathon talks in April.

The US, Iran, and five other nations have set a deadline of 30 June to finalise a deal which would ease western sanctions in exchange for restrictions on Iran's nuclear programme.

Obama agreed to sign the bill giving Congress the right to reject any forthcoming agreement with Iran.

Some Republicans have argued against the deal, saying Iran has received too many concessions.

They have always insisted they must have a say if any agreement means economic sanctions levied by Congress against Iran will be lifted.

The Israeli government, which has been fiercely critical of the deal with Iran, welcomed the agreement between Obama and Congress.

Iran yesterday said that Obama was 'responsible' for making sure that Washington respects a final agreement over Iran's nuclear programme.

"It is the obligation of the government of the United States to implement its international agreements. And we will hold the US government, the US president accountable" for the application of the treaties that they sign, Mohammad Javad Zarif told journalists in Lisbon.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters Obama was not "particularly thrilled" with the outcome, but US media have pointed out that in the event of Congress rejecting a deal with Iran, Obama would be able to use his presidential veto.

A two-thirds majority would then be needed for Congress to override the veto, which is viewed as unlikely.

The bill is now likely to clear both houses in the Republican-controlled Congress.

An earlier version of the bill had placed a 60-day halt to any plan by Obama to lift sanctions on Iran But that review period has been reduced to 30 days.

Obama will still be able to lift sanctions he himself imposed through executive action but he would be unable to ease those imposed by Congress.