The U.S. Senate has rejected an effort to tie sanctions relief for Iran under an international nuclear agreement to a requirement that President Barack Obama certify that Tehran is not supporting acts of terrorism against Americans.
The 54-45 vote on April 29 against the antiterrorism measure follows the Senate's rejection of a bid on April 28 to subject any nuclear deal with Iran to a two-thirds ratification vote in the Senate.
Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Corker said the so-called "poison pill" amendments would have endangered legislation pending before the Senate that would give Congress authority to review a potential deal to curb Iran's nuclear program, which Western states fear is aimed at developing nuclear weapons, in exchange for sanctions relief.
They would kill the congressional review bill's chances of becoming law, he said, by provoking a veto from Obama, who considers tougher restrictions on Iran to be a threat to ongoing negotiations between Tehran and six world powers aimed at reaching a deal by June 30.