Congress and Israel-Iran: Another Veto?

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Nerves are already frayed, tempers are already flaring, invectives are already flying over the ill-advised, ill-mannered, ill-natured and ill-timed decision by Boehner & Co. to unilaterally invite Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to address a joint session of Congress next week without the courtesy of even mentioning it to the President.

Joe Gandelman addresses some of the “consequences of Netanyahu’s action and its transparent political meaning and significance for Israel and America’s political process” here.

But it gets more interesting.

Reuters is reporting that, according to the White House, Obama would veto a bill recently introduced in the U.S. Senate by four Senators, including two Democrats, that would allow Congress to weigh in on any deal the United States and other negotiating countries reach with Iran on its nuclear capabilities.

Reuters:

“The president has been clear that now is not the time for Congress to pass additional legislation on Iran. If this bill is sent to the president, he will veto it,” said Bernadette Meehan, a spokeswoman for the White House’s National Security Council.
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The United States and five other major powers are seeking to negotiate an agreement with Iran to curb its nuclear program in exchange for relief from economic sanctions.
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The Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act would require to submit to Congress the text of any agreement within five days of concluding a final deal with Iran. The bill would also prohibit Obama from suspending or waiving sanctions on Iran passed by Congress for 60 days after a deal.
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Meehan said United States “should give our negotiators the best chance of success, rather than complicating their efforts.”

Reuters correctly points out that “negotiations between the United States, Russia, China, France, Germany, Britain and Iran have reached a crucial stage, with a basic framework agreement due by the end of March,” and concludes with comments by Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) alluding to being “disappointed” with the president wanting to speak with a unified voice for our country.