NY Times: Congress Can Play a Constructive Role on Iran

Useful - “Congress can play a role going forward,” in the Iran nuclear negotiations, writes the New York Times editorial board. One useful way for it to weight in, the editors argue, would be to support a recent bill from Sens. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) requiring the president to report regularly to Congress on Iran’s compliance and setting up an expedited process to reimposing sanctions if Iran cheats.

--The editors issued a strong warning on another piece of legislation that could blow up the negotiations - the Corker bill, which would require the president to submit a final deal to Congress and could prevent U.S. compliance with the deal for two months.

“Congress needs to think hard about the best way to support a verifiable nuclear deal and not play political games that could leave America isolated, the sanctions regime in tatters and Iran’s nuclear program unshackled,” writes the New York Times editorial board. http://nyti.ms/1MmUYVm

To Tehran, with caution - A group of 47 Republican senators has written an open letter to Iran’s saying they will consider any final nuclear deal that is not approved by Congress an executive agreement between the current administration and Iran.

--“The next president could revoke such an executive agreement with the stroke of a pen and future Congresses could modify the terms of the agreement at any time,” the letter warns. Josh Rogin has the story. http://bv.ms/1EI3sE5

--And the text of the letter (not including all the signers) is here (pdf): http://bloom.bg/18tBiA7

To Congress, with skepticism - Contrary to the implication of the congressional letter (see above), the next president may find it difficult to negate an Iran deal, writes Daniel Drezner in the Washington Post.

--“[If Iran honors] the terms as well as they’ve honored the interim deal, then the next president will be trying to sabotage an agreement that tamped down a major stressor in the region,” the author concludes. “Given that a deal with Iran is politically popular now, a successful deal will be even more politically popular two years from now.” http://wapo.st/1GxYBHG

Tweet - @armscontrolnow: "P5+1 and Iran Nuclear Talks Alert, March 9: 'A good deal is at hand'" #IranTalks http://t.co/h7NWVhHFT3

Alternatives - “Proponents of an even more coercive policy [toward Iran] should recognize that if they get their wish, they may create a security threat far greater than the limited threat they are now trying to prevent,” writes Gary Sick in POLITICO.

--“If this agreement is rejected… we go back to the early days of 2013: heavy sanctions, a rapidly increasing Iranian nuclear program and a looming threat of war. That is surely something no responsible statesman or politician would wish to see.” http://politi.co/1aXoKmo

Quote - On CBS’s Face the Nation President Obama said that the P5+1 have offered Iran an “extraordinarily reasonable deal… Over the next month or so, we’re going to be able to determine whether or not their system is able to accept what would be an extraordinarily reasonable deal, if in fact, as they say, they are only interested in peaceful nuclear programs.” Key excerpt from the President’s interview here (video). http://cbsn.ws/1E17lQS

Cooperation - According to Iranian state media, Iran will allow UN inspectors access to Marivan, the site of purported experiments on high explosives. AP’s Matt Lee reports. http://abcn.ws/1wjPff5

Timelines - Tight scheduling could prevent Congress from acting quickly on Iran legislation at the end of the month, meaning negotiators could have an extra three weeks after the informal deadline for a framework agreement, Michael Crowley reports for POLITICO. The administration may get some leeway from Senate Democrats if they can show progress in the talks - or they may not, particularly if the agreement is not in writing. More on timing, hints from Congress and signs from Geneva here. http://politi.co/1E5K5U9

Tweet - @StimsonCenter: The bomb as a political instrument more than a military one in #India, more from M. Krepon: http://t.co/IsgLWoeznZ

Quick Hits:

--“U.S., France 'on same page' over Iran, want stronger deal,” by Arshad Mohammed and John Irish for Reuters. http://reut.rs/1GjdPwA

--“Netanyahu’s Iran Thing,” by Roger Cohen for the New York Times. http://nyti.ms/1F2VkOY

--“Pakistan test-fires nuclear capable ballistic missile.” In The Economic Times http://bit.ly/1BjeKNU

Events:

--Senate Armed Services Committee, hearing on “Postures of the Department of the Army and the Department of the Air Force.” With Gen. Raymond Odierno, Chief of Staff, U.S. Army; Mark Welsh, Chief of Staff, Air Force; Deborah Lee James, Air Force Secretary; and John McHugh, Army Secretary. POSTPONED: Original time March 5 at 9:30 AM, new time TBD. Located at G-50 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, DC. Webcast on the committee website. http://1.usa.gov/1aJjDWT

--Senate Armed Services Committee, hearing on "Posture of the Department of the Navy." With Raymond Mabus, Navy Secretary; Adm. John Greenert, Chief of Naval Operations; and Gen. Joseph Dunford, Marine Corps. Commandant. March 10 at 9:30 AM. Located at G50 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington DC. Webcast on the committee website. http://1.usa.gov/1EgDadv

--Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water, hearing on the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) budget. With Frank Klotz, Administrator, NNSA. March 11, at 9:00AM. Located in 138 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, DC. Webcast on the committee website. http://1.usa.gov/1itSTpx

--“A New Approach to the Nuclear Fuel Cycle.” Featuring John Hamre, Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS); Joan Rohlfing, Nuclear Threat Initiative; Andrew Newman, Nuclear Threat Initiative; Everett Redmond, Nuclear Energy Institute; and Sharon Squassoni, CSIS. March 12 from 9:00-10:30 AM. Located at CSIS, 1616 Rhode Island Ave. NW, Washington, DC. RSVP by email at PPP@CSIS.org

--“A Nuclear Deal, Iran’s Regional Role and U.S. Relations with the Persian Gulf.” Featuring Richard LeBaron, former Ambassador to Kuwait; Alireza Nader, RAND; and Ilan Goldenberg, Center for a New American Security. March 16 at 2:00 PM. Located at the Atlantic Council, 12th Floor, 1030 15th St. NW, Washington, DC. RSVP online. http://bit.ly/1MFH1mO

--“Managing and Reducing 21st Century Nuclear Security Threats.” Featuring Duyeon Kim, Carnegie Endowment; former Sen. Sam Nunn (GA), Nuclear Security Initiative; former Sen. Richard Lugar (IN), Lugar Center; Desmond Browne, former U.K. Defense Minister; and Rep. Jeff Fortenberry (NE). March 16 from 6:00-8:30 PM. Located at Georgetown University, Bunn Intercultural Center, 37th St. NW, Washington, DC. RSVP by March 12 online. http://bit.ly/1wJFnM8

--Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water, hearing on the Energy Department budget. With Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz. March 18, time TBA, Room TBA, Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington. Webcast on the committee website. http://1.usa.gov/1itSTpx