US Congress Calls for Additional Steps to Address Iran's Nuclear Program

Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy at a joint meeting of Congress in the Capitol last Thursday. (EPA)
Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy at a joint meeting of Congress in the Capitol last Thursday. (EPA)
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US Congress Calls for Additional Steps to Address Iran's Nuclear Program

Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy at a joint meeting of Congress in the Capitol last Thursday. (EPA)
Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy at a joint meeting of Congress in the Capitol last Thursday. (EPA)

The US Congress is stepping up its efforts to clamp down on Iran to deter it from acquiring nuclear weapons.

A group of 249 bipartisan lawmakers sent a letter to President Joe Biden, demanding he take additional steps to address Iran's nuclear program and prepare to reimpose UN sanctions on Tehran.

The letter, put forward by Republican Dan Crenshaw and Democrat Abigail Spanberger, said the US "must increase its efforts to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, and to communicate to Iran, without any ambiguity, that any further progress in its nuclear program will result in severe consequences."

It also cites Iran's "strengthened alliance" with Russia and China, which bolsters the "Iranian regime's confidence and may make them more likely to challenge US allies and interests."

The letter bore the signatures of 110 Democratic representatives, including representatives who supported the efforts of former President Barack Obama's administration to conclude the nuclear agreement with Tehran.

It is not the first time lawmakers have addressed such a letter to the White House.

Last week, senators sent a similar letter urging the Biden administration to work with European allies to prepare to reinstate sanctions on Iran if it raises its rate of uranium enrichment to 90 percent.

A bipartisan group of 26 senators wrote that the "Congress stands united behind the long-held bipartisan position that Iran must never be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon."

"It is crucial for your administration to remain aligned with Congressional efforts related to Iran's nuclear program and not agree to a pact that fails to achieve our nation's critical interests. We urge you to take meaningful steps to curb Iran's destabilizing activities and deter the regime from pursuing this nefarious ambition any further."

The letters coincide with bills put forward by lawmakers from both parties in the Senate and House of Representatives to restrict the administration's movement in the negotiations with Iran.

The latest of these bills was submitted by top Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Jim Risch, reminding the White House of the legal necessity to return to Congress upon reaching any agreement with Tehran.

"As the Biden Administration contemplates another enormous cash windfall to the Iranian regime in exchange for dubious non-proliferation promises, it is vitally important that Congress has a voice in any sanctions relief," said Risch.

"Iran remains actively engaged in supporting Russia's unprovoked war in Ukraine and continues to attack our troops and diplomats. [...] Congress has an obligation to ensure that sanctions relief does not fund these appalling activities."



Iran Turns to Moscow and Beijing to Thwart ‘Snapback’ Sanctions Threat

Sergei Lavrov and Wang Yi met in Beijing on July 13 (Reuters)
Sergei Lavrov and Wang Yi met in Beijing on July 13 (Reuters)
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Iran Turns to Moscow and Beijing to Thwart ‘Snapback’ Sanctions Threat

Sergei Lavrov and Wang Yi met in Beijing on July 13 (Reuters)
Sergei Lavrov and Wang Yi met in Beijing on July 13 (Reuters)

Iran is turning to Russia and China in a bid to head off the potential reimposition of international sanctions, amid escalating tensions over its nuclear program.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has held talks with his Chinese and Russian counterparts to discuss the future of the nuclear accord and the possibility that the European troika could trigger the “snapback” mechanism.

Iranian state media reported on Monday that Araghchi arrived in Beijing at the head of an official delegation to attend a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization’s foreign ministers. The trip comes as debate intensifies within Iran over the stances of Moscow and Beijing, particularly in the aftermath of the recent conflict between Iran and Israel.

Speaking at a press conference, Foreign Ministry spokesman Ismail Baghaei stressed that Gulf security remains a priority for China.

“Araghchi’s visit follows an official invitation from the Chinese Foreign Minister,” he said, adding that the Iranian diplomat will hold bilateral meetings Tuesday on the sidelines of the gathering.

Baghaei emphasized Tehran’s ongoing coordination with both Russia and China, who are parties to the nuclear deal.

“Russia and China have consistently expressed their readiness to play a constructive role in the process related to Iran’s nuclear file, and this continues,” he noted. “We have longstanding, friendly relations with both countries and a strategic partnership.”

Addressing reports that Moscow has privately urged Tehran to halt uranium enrichment, Baghaei said: “We have not received any specific proposal from Russia on this matter.”

In Beijing, China’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that Foreign Minister Wang Yi discussed Iran’s nuclear issue with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, alongside other bilateral and international topics.

Meanwhile, Moscow on Sunday denounced a report claiming President Vladimir Putin had urged Iran to accept a deal with the United States that would bar it from enriching uranium. Russia’s Foreign Ministry dismissed the claim as “defamation” aimed at inflaming tensions over the Iranian nuclear program.

According to the American outlet Axios, sources familiar with the issue said Putin recently pressed Iran to agree to “zero enrichment.”

But Russia rebuffed the report as baseless, insisting its position is well known: "Invariably and repeatedly, we have emphasized the necessity of resolving the crisis concerning Iran's nuclear program exclusively through political and diplomatic means, and expressed our willingness to help find mutually acceptable solutions," the ministry statement read.

It added that Moscow stands ready to help broker mutually acceptable solutions.

Since the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Moscow has strengthened its ties with Tehran. While publicly backing Iran’s right to enrich uranium, Putin has reportedly adopted a tougher line behind closed doors following the 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran.

According to European and Israeli officials, Moscow has encouraged Tehran to accept a “zero enrichment” compromise and shared this position with Israeli authorities. “We know this is what Putin told the Iranians,” a senior Israeli official confirmed.

Last week, Putin is said to have relayed his stance in calls with US President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron.