The Iran Task Force, a “group of former government officials and nuclear, legal, and sanctions experts” issued a statement today supporting a “decisive” role for Congress in affirming any nuclear deal with Iran agreed to by the White House.

We support bipartisan efforts to give Congress a decisive role in the evaluation of any nuclear deal with Iran.

Any nuclear deal between the P5+1 and Iran is destined to affect regional stability and global non-proliferation norms for decades to come, for good or ill. It would be of tremendous importance to U.S. national security. Congress played a critical role in developing the sanctions that made the negotiations possible, and it should have a decisive say on any deal and sanctions relief to follow.

Congress should have adequate time to review any nuclear deal with Iran. During a 60-day review period, the Executive Branch should be required to refrain from suspending, waiving, or otherwise reducing statutory sanctions on Iran.

U.S. foreign policy is strengthened when backed by broad consensus including both the Executive Branch and Congress. Congressional consent would strengthen, not weaken, the durability of a deal with Iran. However, if Congress finds a proposed deal inadequate, it should have the opportunity to prevent any action that would undermine the sanctions architecture that it has worked to establish.

The markup of the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015, also known as the Corker-Menendez bill, which has strong bipartisan support and incorporates some of the principles in the statement, will take place later today.

[Photo: Mike Maguire / Flickr ]