“When it comes to relieving congressional sanctions [President Obama] is not going to have the final say, we [the US Congress] are,” Graham told Sputnik.
Asked if he was certain that relief from congressional sanctions are part of the negotiations, Graham said, “Absolutely. Why would the Iranians agree to a deal where the congressional sanctions, which are very tough, are still in place?”
The details of the negotiations between Iran and the P5+1 group of countries have not been made public, but Graham said he strongly believed the US administration had offered relief from sanctions that could only be repealed by the US Congress, not through executive action.
The letter states that any agreement reached between the United States and Iran without congressional approval would be “a mere executive agreement,” and could be repealed after Obama left office.
So far, the only agreement that has been finalized in the nuclear talks is the Joint Plan of Action, which stipulates relief from “temporarily suspend certain sanctions” the US has against Iran in the petrochemical industry, the automobile sector, and some financial sanctions, according to the US Department of Treasury.
A further agreement is pending a decision by the negotiating parties at the end of March, according to the White House.
