The approval by a Senate panel of a bill that would give Congress the power to review a nuclear deal with Iran was not a defeat for the Obama administration, White House senior adviser Valerie Jarrett said Wednesday.
The administration had threatened to veto an initial version of the legislation, but abruptly changed course Tuesday after it was announced that some changes had been made to the bill. Appearing on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” Jarrett was asked whether this represented a loss for the White House.
{mosads}“No, not at all,” she said, before pushing back against reports that Secretary of State John Kerry had been lobbying against the compromise.
“Secretary Kerry was doing what he has been doing consistently,” she said, “which is briefing the Hill, giving them classified briefings, touching as many of the members as possible because it’s important that they understand what we’re trying to accomplish here.”
She also praised Senate Foreign Relations Chairman Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), the bill’s author, and ranking member Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) for achieving a compromise in a difficult environment.
“He and Senator Cardin did a terrific job of working together and listening and in the end compromising,” Jarrett said. “So it’s not ideal, obviously, but we want to move forward.”
She also said Corker had been right not to sign on to a controversial “open letter” addressed by some Senate Republicans to the leaders of Iran, warning them that a nuclear accord could be undone by Congress.
The compromise gives Congress the chance to voice its opinion on a nuclear deal.
Under the new legislation, lawmakers must pass a resolution of approval or disapproval within 30 days over the president submitting a plan for review. The original legislation had a 60-day timeframe, which the White House said could prevent implementation of a deal.
It passed the Foreign Relations Committee unanimously on Tuesday.
Nuclear negotiators have through June to reach a deal.