Russia shields Iran from airstrikes, puts Obama nuclear deal in political peril
White House spokesman Josh Earnest took a much more pointed tone, saying Russia’s decision to deliver the system to Iran could endanger wider plans for relieving international sanctions on Tehran as part of a final nuclear deal.
Russia is a part of the so-called P5-plus-1 group, which also includes the U.S., Britain, China, Germany and France. The group two weeks ago reached a preliminary deal with Iran that would slow parts of the Islamic republic’s nuclear program in exchange for relief from economic sanctions. The catch is that key details of the process by which sanctions relief would occur have not been worked out.
“One of the things we have indicated has been critical to our success in this diplomatic process has been the unity of the international community,” Mr. Earnest said Monday.
“The United States and our partners in Europe have been able to work closely with Russia and China to bring Iran to the table,” he said. “So we value the coordination and unity that we have been able to maintain throughout this rather long process.”
His comments suggest that the White House saw Mr. Putin’s move as a break in that unity. But with U.S. and its partners headed soon into the next round of nuclear negotiations with Iran, the implications of the development are not clear.
Battle in Congress
The Russian move was announced as the battle between President Obama and congressional skeptics of the Iran accord appeared to be coming to a head.
House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, California Republican, said the House will take up a Senate bill that would let Congress have a second look at the emerging nuclear deal with Iran. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Corker, Tennessee Republican, has begun pushing his bill in committee this week, even as Mr. Kerry and other top administration aides were giving the first private briefing to the Hill on the agreement.
Mr. McCarthy said he told Mr. Corker that his chamber is ready to act after the full Senate puts its stamp on the legislation.
via NorthEast Calling http://ift.tt/1O8J3JR
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