The White House sent Republican lawmakers a list of issues surrounding the emerging Iran deal. But they got nothing more.
President Trump touts progress on Iran deal at G7 summit
President Donald Trump emphasized the Iran deal at the G7 summit, raising the possibility of sanctions relief and reopening of shipping lanes.
WASHINGTON – In the days since President Donald Trump announced a new peace deal with Iran, Congress has remained largely silent about the deal.
Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle appeared frustrated by the lack of concrete details from the White House. Especially since, as many have pointed out, any potential nuclear deal is likely to be announced through Congress.
“If it’s a secret deal, how can we take it seriously?” said retired Sen. Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina).
He was not the only Republican senator eager to provide input into ongoing talks after the US signed a memorandum of understanding with Iran. The framework brings countries closer to a deal that could halt fighting, reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and result in Iran handing over enriched uranium.
After the president finished a late-night cage match on the White House lawn and jetted off to France to attend a Group of Seven summit with key US allies on June 15, aides sent Republican lawmakers a four-page list of talking points touting the tentative deal.
The memo, obtained by USA TODAY, told Republicans that “American families are safer and will feel better when the pumps are working.” “More work needs to be done to reach a final agreement, but no other president could have gotten us this far.”
White House officials instructed allies on Capitol Hill to emphasize that “Iran will never have nuclear weapons” and that “there will be no forever war.”
Deputies had no room to speak further. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-South Dakota) said on June 16 that the so-called Group of Eight, the most important members of Congress that oversee national security issues, had not yet been briefed.
“I hope that happens sooner rather than later,” Thun said.
The lack of immediate coordination with members of Congress, even within the Republican Party, could be a problem down the road for the president as he seeks support on Capitol Hill for a final deal. And while the lack of communication fits with Trump’s pattern of bypassing the legislature at key moments, it may also speak to the fragility of ongoing negotiations with Iran, even as the president continues to exude an air of victory.
“History shows that Iranian religious zealots lie like fish,” said Sen. John Kennedy (R-Louisiana). “There needs to be guardrails in the agreements we make with them. … We won’t really know until we have a chance to see the documents.”
Republicans want a say on nuclear deal
In 2015, as then-President Barack Obama was negotiating the nuclear deal with Iran, Congress passed the Iran Nuclear Deal Review Act. The bill gave lawmakers 60 days to review President Obama’s deal with Iran, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
Ten years later, long after President Trump tore up the Obama deal, a similar vote could happen again. And even President Trump’s closest allies in Congress want to give their members a say.
“Under our laws, the nuclear deal with Iran will now be sent to Congress for review and vote,” Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) said in a social media post over the weekend. “We look forward to reviewing the final product.”
Retiring Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) said in a statement that it was important to reflect the views of the Senate.
“A transaction of this size deserves thorough consideration,” Ernst said.
President Trump said on June 16 that he liked the idea of sending the final deal with Iran to Congress, setting the stage for a possible Senate vote on the deal after the deal is completed. The Senate has a constitutional duty to “advise and consent” to treaties signed by the president. If the deal is strictly classified as a treaty, its approval would need to pass a two-thirds majority in the Senate, and its success could depend on Democratic support.
“I’ll send it to Congress. I like the idea. I mean, who wouldn’t approve?” Trump said during a meeting with United Arab Emirates President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan at the G7 summit. “Send it to Congress.”
As for Graham, he suggested the hawkish senator would return after the two had their talks.
President Trump said, “I have to talk to Lindsey. He’s going to be in big trouble,” and the audience erupted in lukewarm laughter. “Lindsay is fine. Lindsay is fine. He’s not suspicious. He’s fine.”
Zachary Schermele is USA TODAY’s Congressional Correspondent. You can email us at zschermele@usatoday.com. Follow him on X at @ZachSchermele and on Bluesky at @zachschermele.bsky.social..
