Senate Majority Leader John Thune said Tuesday he is pressing the Trump administration for the text of a memorandum of understanding with Iran, acknowledging that Republican leaders have yet to be briefed on details of the deal that ended a three-and-a-half month military conflict.
“We’re trying to get it,” Thune told reporters at the Capitol when asked whether GOP leaders are seeking access to the agreement. Thune said he hasn’t yet been notified of a briefing but speculated it could happen later in the week.
Trump and Vice President JD Vance virtually signed the US-Iran agreement on June 15, according to CNN. The deal extends a ceasefire for 60 days during which the sides will negotiate details of a final agreement, according to multiple sources including the BBC and CNN.
The GOP leader acknowledged it’s unusual for the president not to share details of a major international agreement with his own party’s leaders. “Since I’ve been in this job, we haven’t had this issue,” Thune said when asked if it’s customary for Senate leaders to request briefings on major international peace deals.
Trump initially told reporters on the sidelines of the G7 summit in France on Tuesday that he “never thought” about sending the deal to Congress. “I never thought about sending, never even thought about it, but I will. I will send it to Congress,” Trump said. “I like the idea.”
Thune said Senate Republicans have also requested a formal briefing from the Trump administration on the memorandum of understanding. He said what Republicans understand so far is “sort of a framework to allow for discussions to continue.” Thune emphasized that the goal should be ensuring Iran ends its nuclear program and that “whatever financial incentives they have should be conditioned upon that.”
Under the 2015 Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act, any nuclear deal with Iran must be submitted to Congress for review and a vote before sanctions can be lifted. Thune said he expects there will be a vote on a resolution of disapproval on any final agreement. “We’re going to need to be heard from on this if there’s a deal that deals with the nuclear program,” he said.
Vance has been conducting a media blitz to outline the deal’s framework. According to NBC News, the full text of the memorandum of understanding will be released after a formal signing ceremony. Vance has indicated the text may be released before Friday, according to the BBC.
The GOP skepticism reflects broader congressional concern about the lack of transparency. According to the New York Times, both Democrats and Republicans have demanded immediate briefings on the agreement, with even some of Trump’s Republican allies expressing reservations about supporting the deal before reviewing its contents.
Sources
- The Hill — Thune’s statement that GOP leaders are pressing for the MOU text and his acknowledgment that it’s unusual not to brief party leaders on major international deals
- CNN — Trump and Vance’s virtual signing of the US-Iran agreement and the 60-day ceasefire extension period
- BBC — The deal’s 60-day extension of ceasefire and Vance’s indication the text may be released before Friday
- NBC News — Details about the memorandum of understanding as a framework and that the full text will be released after a formal signing ceremony
- The New York Times — Congressional demand for briefings from both Democrats and Republicans on the agreement
