Americans overwhelmingly support a congressional review of a new Iran deal

Editor’s note: The Center for Security Policy gratefully acknowledges its collaboration with tippinsights on the simultaneous and exclusive release of this important story.

As the final stages of the Vienna talks progress, the prospects for a revived joint U.S.-Iranian nuclear deal become more likely. Americans overwhelmingly agree that a new deal must be submitted for Congressional review.

Congressional Review And Vote

A new collaborative CSP/TIPP poll conducted in early April 2022 found that 83% of respondents, including 85% of “liberals” who are following the story, feel that it is essential that Congress votes on whether or not the U.S. rejoins the nuclear deal.

38% of respondents are “closely” following stories related to the Iran deal, while 53% are not. The number of Americans tuning in to the progress of the Vienna talks is likely to rise as the prospects for a revived deal become more imminent.

The Iran Nuclear Agreement Act (INARA), passed in 2015 with bipartisan support, prevents the president from suspending or waiving sanctions before Congress can vote on an agreement. Essentially, any new deal to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons must be submitted to Congress for review. Therefore, if Democratic Party leaders refuse to submit the current Iran deal on the table in Vienna for Congressional review, they would violate this treaty. Additionally, according to the poll results, a lack of Congressional review would not be supported by the American people. But, the administration is not likely to follow it. The argument is that the reentry to JCPOA is not a new deal and that Congress authorized it earlier in 2015.

President Biden promised to rejoin the Obama-era deal that remains constitutionally questionable at the onset of his term. In 2015, the Obama administration executed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) as an executive agreement, not a treaty reviewed and voted on by Congress. While executive orders alone are not rare, the use of one to accomplish significant international arrangements is. Article II of the Constitution dictates the president must obtain consent from a two-thirds majority to pass international obligations.

The method the Obama administration used to push through the original 2015 JCPOA, combined with Iran’s growing capabilities, may be influencing the strong support Americans have for Congressional oversight this time around.

Joining The Deal

62% of those following the story support joining the deal, while 33% oppose it. Support by party and ideology varies widely. Most Democrats and liberals support while Republicans and conservatives oppose the agreement. Support by party and ideology:

• 84% of Democrats,
• 37% of Republicans,
• 49% of Independents,
• 43% of conservatives,
• 69% of moderates, and
• 84% of liberals.

Full Disclosure Of Terms

In the same CSP/TIPP poll, respondents were asked, “How confident are you that the Biden administration will fully disclose all of the terms of the new Iran deal to Congress?” 64% of those following the Iran story selected “confident,” while 34% selected “not confident.” Ideally, Americans would trust the sitting president to be transparent with Congress, especially when significant consequences are on the line.

President Biden’s credentials aren’t the best, despite his 40 years of foreign policy experience. We hope he will be transparent and negotiate a long-term agreement with bipartisan support.