Iran sanctions renewal becomes law without Obama signature

[webfact]

Iran sanctions renewal becomes law without Obama signature 
JOSH LEDERMAN, Associated Press

 

WASHINGTON (AP) — In an unexpected reversal, President Barack Obama declined to sign a renewal of sanctions against Iran but let it become law anyway, in an apparent bid to alleviate Tehran's concerns that the U.S. is backsliding on the nuclear deal.

 

Although the White House had said that Obama was expected to sign the 10-year-renewal, the midnight deadline came and went Thursday with no approval from the president. White House press secretary Josh Earnest said Obama had decided to let it become law without his signature.

 

"The administration has, and continues to use, all of the necessary authorities to waive the relevant sanctions" lifted as part of the nuclear deal, Earnest said in a statement.

 

Under the Constitution, the president has 10 days after Congress passes a bill to sign it, veto it or let it become law with no signature if Congress is still in session. Although lawmakers have returned home for the holidays, Congress technically has not adjourned and is holding "pro-forma" sessions this week.

 

Though Obama's move doesn't prevent the sanctions renewal from entering force, it marked a symbolic attempt by the president to demonstrate disapproval for lawmakers' actions. The White House has argued that the renewal is unnecessary because the administration retains other authorities to punish Iran, if necessary, and has expressed concern that the renewal may undermine the nuclear deal.

 

Iran's president had vowed to respond if the sanctions were renewed, arguing they violate the nuclear deal between Iran and world powers, which eased sanctions in exchange for curbs on Iran's nuclear program. On Tuesday, Iran's president ordered up plans to build nuclear-powered ships and to formally accuse the U.S. of violating the terms of the deal.

 

The Obama administration stressed that Iran would be unaffected by the renewal, as long as it continues honoring the nuclear deal. Secretary of State John Kerry said he'd told his Iranian counterpart that "to ensure maximum clarity," he'd issued new, redundant waivers exempting Iran from sanctions lifted under the deal.

 

"Extension of the Iran Sanctions Act does not affect in any way the scope of the sanctions relief Iran is receiving under the deal or the ability of companies to do business in Iran consistent with the JCPOA," Kerry said, using an acronym for the nuclear deal.

 

President-elect Donald Trump has been sharply critical of the nuclear deal and has threatened to try to renegotiate it, but has been vague about whether he'd pull the U.S. out of it.

 

-- © Associated Press 2016-12-15

[DavidVincent]

Nice move from Obama but not enough.

I wonder what to think think of the jobs and $17 billions deal Boeing signed with them, closely followed by Airbus...if you plan to boycott a "terrorist" country you don't sell them planes

[Jingthing]

trump will soon hold all the cards on this. Who knows what the man baby will actually do? He's already completely backtracked on many issues and it's clear  most of his campaign was a massive con man bait and switch deal. 

[DavidVincent]

36 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

trump will soon hold all the cards on this. Who knows what the man baby will actually do? He's already completely backtracked on many issues and it's clear  most of his campaign was a massive con man bait and switch deal. 

Trump is the revival of Political Moonwalking...

[thaibeachlovers]

Oh dear, there goes the last of Obama's legacy.

Pity the Iranians already got all the money, now they can go back to making nukes without having to scrimp on the readies.

[Redline]

2 hours ago, Jingthing said:

trump will soon hold all the cards on this. Who knows what the man baby will actually do? He's already completely backtracked on many issues and it's clear  most of his campaign was a massive con man bait and switch deal. 

Pathetic.  He's making a mockery out of his supporters, and they are making excuses for him.  

 

 

[Slickrick]

And the dis-connect continues.

[Grubster]

I see a possible George W move coming here, toughen up the kids. Should be a terror attack soon, blamed on Iran.

[Scott]

Off-topic posts and replies removed.  

[Srikcir]

8 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Oh dear, there goes the last of Obama's legacy.

Pity the Iranians already got all the money, now they can go back to making nukes without having to scrimp on the readies.

Not quite.

Iran has received about $1.4 billion of the $35-150 billion dollars (depends on source) frozen by sanctions, some of which have no connection with the nuclear deal. And return will occur over time as complaince to the deal terms are met such as reduction of its stockpile of enriched uranium by 97%,  removal of 14,000 of its 20,000 centrifuges used to enrich uranium, cut production of plutonium used to build a bomb and dismantle its one plutonium reactor. Iran has to allow continous outside monitoring of its nuclear production facility. Failure to comply with the deal's terms will delay the refund.

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2016/mar/17/donald-trump/no-donald-trump-we-are-not-giving-iran-150-billion/

 

 

[tonbridgebrit]

What is happening in Washington ?

Washington has decided to continue sanctions against Iran. Washington was heading in the right direction when Obama went to reach out to the Iranians. And now we see this, a renewal for sanctions. The good work done by Obama has been undone. Why hasn't Obama spoken strongly against the renewal of sanctions ?

 

[Jingthing]

7 minutes ago, tonbridgebrit said:

What is happening in Washington ?

Washington has decided to continue sanctions against Iran. Washington was heading in the right direction when Obama went to reach out to the Iranians. And now we see this, a renewal for sanctions. The good work done by Obama has been undone. Why hasn't Obama spoken strongly against the renewal of sanctions ?

 

He's a lame duck president. His party doesn't control congress and in about a month, trump will be president with an even stronger congressional majority. 

[Ahab]

This is why major foreign policy agreements (aka treaties) need to be ratified by two thirds majority of the Senate. An executive "agreement" is worth no more than the paper it is written on after a President leaves office. Short cutting the requirements makes for a very weak and non-binding agreement.

[Ahab]

5 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

He's a lame duck president. His party doesn't control congress and in about a month, trump will be president with an even stronger congressional majority. 

Also getting the Orange Menace's nominees through the Senate is going to be easier because the Democrats got rid of the use of the filibuster (requiring 60 votes in the Senate) for confirmation of Presidential nominees. Thank you Democrats, way to look to the future!

[Srikcir]

3 hours ago, Ahab said:

executive "agreement" is worth no more than the paper it is written on

Obama did get Senate votes to guarantee Iran nuclear deal.

http://mashable.com/2015/09/02/iran-deal-secured/#npy4wRgYu8qr

Recent Senate vote to enable more sanctions doesn't negate the deal.

But it was duplicitious to limit the president’s use of waivers to suspend the sanctions that Congress put in place.

http://www.timesofisrael.com/iran-nuclear-review-bill-clears-hurdle-in-us-senate/

No oin Obama signing the legislation.

[Srikcir]

3 hours ago, tonbridgebrit said:

Why hasn't Obama spoken strongly against the renewal of sanctions ?

Because it doesn't change the negotiated deal if Iran complies with the deal's terms?

Because there was majority Democrat support for renewal and Obama holds office for only one more month?

Obama reticence to strongly oppose renewal was practical.