Iran sanctions renewal becomes law without Obama signature
ASSOCIATED PRESS
President Barack Obama pauses during a “My Brother’s Keeper” summit in South Court Auditorium at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the White House complex in Washington, Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2016.
WASHINGTON >> In an unexpected reversal, President Barack Obama declined to sign a renewal of sanctions against Iran but let it become law anyway, in an apparent bid to alleviate Tehran’s concerns that the U.S. is backsliding on the nuclear deal.
Although the White House had said that Obama was expected to sign the 10-year-renewal, the midnight deadline came and went Thursday with no approval from the president. White House press secretary Josh Earnest said Obama had decided to let it become law without his signature.
“The administration has, and continues to use, all of the necessary authorities to waive the relevant sanctions” lifted as part of the nuclear deal, Earnest said in a statement.
Under the Constitution, the president has 10 days after Congress passes a bill to sign it, veto it or do nothing. If Congress has adjourned, failing to sign it is a “pocket veto” that prevents the bill from becoming law. But if Congress is still in session, the bill becomes law with no signature. Although lawmakers have returned home for the holidays, Congress technically is still in session and holding “pro-forma” sessions this week.
Though Obama’s move doesn’t prevent the sanctions renewal from entering force, it marked a symbolic attempt by the president to demonstrate disapproval for lawmakers’ actions. The White House has argued that the renewal is unnecessary because the administration retains other authorities to punish Iran, if necessary, and has expressed concern that the renewal may undermine the nuclear deal.
Iran had vowed to respond if the sanctions were renewed, arguing they violate the nuclear deal between Iran and world powers, which eased sanctions in exchange for curbs on Iran’s nuclear program. Iran’s government has complained to the United Nations about the renewal, and on Tuesday, Iran’s president ordered up plans to build nuclear-powered ships and to formally accuse the U.S. of violating the terms of the deal.
Yet U.S. lawmakers argued that renewing the law, first passed in 1996 and renewed several times since, was critical to maintaining pressure on Iran to abide by the deal and to pushing back on Tehran’s other troubling behavior in the region. The bill passed the Senate unanimously and the House by an overwhelming margin.
The Obama administration stressed that Iran would be unaffected by the renewal, as long as it continues honoring the nuclear deal. Secretary of State John Kerry said he’d told his Iranian counterpart that “to ensure maximum clarity,” he’d issued new, redundant waivers exempting Iran from sanctions lifted under the deal.
“Extension of the Iran Sanctions Act does not affect in any way the scope of the sanctions relief Iran is receiving under the deal or the ability of companies to do business in Iran consistent with the JCPOA,” Kerry said, using an acronym for the nuclear deal.
President-elect Donald Trump has been sharply critical of the nuclear deal and has threatened to try to renegotiate it, and Israel’s prime minister has said he plans to lobby Trump to undo the deal. Republican supporters of the sanctions had argued that renewing them would ensure that Trump would have the authority to reinstate penalties that Obama eased.
Under the nuclear deal, the U.S. and world powers suspended sweeping oil, trade and other financial sanctions that had devastated Iran’s economy. In exchange, Tehran agreed to roll back its nuclear program, though the deal’s critics say the agreement is flawed because it didn’t halt all Iranian activity and because key restrictions eventually expire.
22 responses to “Iran sanctions renewal becomes law without Obama signature”
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How many days? So enjoy it until 1/20/17 then please fade away and enjoy the title “worst ever”
No backbone right to the end of his term. All talk no action. He’s so good at it that he can whistle at the same time he pronounces every “s”.
O still voting “PRESENT” to the end….SAD.
“Community Organizer” should be listed as disqualifying prerequisite on the application form for POTUS.
Barry’s idea of multi tasking. That’s why the mute button and closed captions was invented. Use it. Save your sanity.
IRT LNR, this is the leadership from behind by Hawaii born President Obama for eight years. No backbone to sign the agreement he set up. Bad example for the youth of Hawaii.
Never forget his line in the sand. What a wimp.
Read the article. Kerry has set up waivers that will hold despite the renewal.
Republicans will be to blame if Iran responds tit for tat for the un-necessary renewal of the sanctions.
This is not a way to build friendly relations with Iran or the rest of the world. NOBODY likes a bully.
IRT Wiliki, Iran is the Bully in the Middle East and Africa. Where have you been? Golfing with Hawaii born President Obama.
Passive-agressive Barry Hussein and his goofball Sec’y of State John F’ing Kerry at their finest. I hope he’s not counting on this very dangerous appeasement towards Iran to pad his legacy. On the flip side it’s comforting to know that adults will soon be running the show the show as Barry and his progressive incompetents are shown the door.
Hardly. Worst ever at least in my life time goes to that republican hero G W Bush who saw the stock market go from over 10000 to under 7000 during his 8 years. Great job. Sadly I suspect the title will soon pass to the Donald. Obama was one of our better presidents.
…give it up Boots,you sound just as pathetic as the rest of Democrat Liberals crying for a Recount. It’s so shameful I can’t watch them on TV! It’s a crying Shame!
So Boots,how’s Australia or was it New Zealand,isn’t it Summer time there? Have you ran into any Hollywood Celebrities yet?lol.
“For the Love Of Money”
I suspect you to be in love with Money so much? So how come you’re giving President Trump props for the recent Stock Market Rally? And all the Jobs he’s bringing back? Even before being sworn in? Brah!
Why didn’t “The Worst Ever” (Your words, not mine.) Barry himself think of this before?
Crickets…..Same ole Tired excuse:Always Blaming GW to the very last drop.(when it comes to the stock Market) But the main people you forget to mention,the ones responsible for the slump in the stock then, was Dodds and Franks . Your Dynamic Duo. Haaaaaaaaaaa!
But Hey! Look at the Banking stocks today . It’UP Bro! Who gonna Blame now?
Obama was, is and will continue to be unstable. He cost Crooked Hillary the election, not Putin.
You got that right. He did a superb job of alienating enough voters to hand Trump the victory.
At most he alienated poor little white boys who think they have lost out under Obama. They haven’t and they have seen nothing yet, I hope they enjoy their new jobs at a sub minimum wage.
Boots=Racist=Loser=LOL
So much hypocrisy! Anyone against Obama was called a racist. Well now you are the racist! Obama and the Democrats LOST the election HELLO!!! You think everyone thinks like you but guess what, they don’t. Repubs have the White House, the Senate, the House and nearly all the governors and state legislation’s. Living in Hawaii you may not have caught that on the news but it’s true. Wake up and smell the roses!
Nope… fake news and the FBI head caused her loss. Who knows… perhaps the Russians also caused her a lot of votes.
WE ALL KNOW THAT IF OBAMA HAD A HAND ON ANYTHING, IT CANNOT BE GOOD FOR THE UNITED STATES.
(the O Curse)
He had every opportunity to be a great president.
FAKE NEWS/MSM/DEMS/LIBS/MUSLIMS/ILLEGALS…..even with all those support groups and still OBAMA IS THE WORST POTUS in American history!
January 20, 2017 #MAGA
Wow…. another war.