WASHINGTON – Today U.S. Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) joined Ben Cardin (D-MD), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Senators Michael Bennet (D-CO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Chris Coons (D-DE), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Brian Schatz (D-HI), to introduce the Iran Policy Oversight Act of 2015, legislation that builds upon the bipartisan commitment to oversight outlined in the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015 that passed the U.S. Senate 98 to 1.

Cosponsors of the legislation include Democratic senators who both supported and opposed the Iran agreement, but are united in working to strengthen U.S. policy toward Iran, while simultaneously clarifying aspects of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) that is set to take effect. 

The legislation includes a regional security strategy for the Middle East and authorizes additional security assistance for Israel.

“While I believe the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action is our best option available to keep Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, Congress can and should shore up some of the agreement’s weaker points,” said Sen. Warner. “I join my colleagues – both supporters and opponents of the JCPOA – to introduce this legislation that clarifies that Congress retains the ability to pass sanctions against Iran, explains that the agreement does not shield foreign companies if sanctions must be re-imposed, and codifies our intent to maintain Israel’s qualitative military edge.”

The Iran Policy Oversight Act of 2015 contains the following key provisions:         

• Sets future U.S. policy on Iran regarding nuclear issues: Iran does not have an inherent right to uranium enrichment; the United States will deter Iran from destabilizing regional activity and support for and acts of terrorism; and all of the options available to the United States, including the military option, remain available to prevent Iran from achieving a nuclear weapons capability. 
• Explicitly authorizes additional, specific security assistance to Israel and cooperation with Israel, including:
  • Applicable ordnance and delivery systems to counter non-peaceful nuclear activities by Iran to ensure the President can take all necessary and appropriate measures to ensure Israel’s qualitative military edge and effectively deter conventional and nuclear threats.
  • Any additional foreign military financing as may be needed to address threats from Iran; and
  • Acceleration of co-development of missile defense systems and other cooperation to bolster the effectiveness of Israel’s conventional deterrent. 
• Requires the Administration to submit:
  • A regional strategy for Countering Conventional and Asymmetric Iranian Activity and Threats in the Middle East and North Africa due January 2016, and every two years thereafter;
  • Reports detailing Iran’s use of funds received through sanctions relief and changes in funding for regional activities and support for terrorism;
  • Reports detailing Iran’s nuclear research & development activities as well as estimated nuclear weapon capability breakout time; and
  • A report addressing the IAEA’s report on the Potential Military Dimension (PMD) issue.
• Continues in effect sanctions on Iranian entities and individuals engaged in ballistic or cruise missile proliferation and terrorism.  Also continues in effect sanctions related to human rights abuses.
• Puts in place expedited procedures for consideration of new terrorism sanctions against Iran if Iran (1) directs or conducts an act of terrorism against the United States; or (2) substantially increases its operational or financial support for a terrorist organization that threatens U.S. interests or allies.
• Sets United States policy on effective re-imposition of sanctions, including US readiness to enforce any violation of the JCPOA as well as joining with our European allies to re-impose sanctions in a calibrated manner in the event Iran violates the JCPOA incrementally.
• Provides a Sense of the Congress regarding Iran’s ballistic or cruise missile capability, that Iran should continue to be prohibited from undertaking any activity related to a ballistic or cruise missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, including launches using ballistic or cruise missile technology, and that UN member states should take all necessary measures to prevent the transfer of technology or technical assistance in these areas. 
• Requires the President to appoint a Coordinator within the Department of State to lead an interagency effort to (1) ensure that the nuclear steps Iran committed to in the JCPOA are fully implemented and verified; and (2) address Iran’s support for acts of international terrorism, ballistic and cruise missile proliferation, and human rights abuses.
• Authorizes funding for the International Atomic Energy Agency for fiscal years 2016 through 2026 necessary to meet the United States’ annual funding commitments to the IAEA as well as the United States’ portion of additional funds needed for the IAEA to fulfill its verification responsibilities under the JCPOA. 
  • Requires a report outlining efforts with international partners to ensure the IAEA receives the full additional $10,600,000 per year necessary to fulfill its verification responsibilities under the JCPOA, and identifying an impediments to achieving such funding. 
• Clarifies key interpretive issues in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) including:
  • No sanctions relief will be provided to Iran until it meets its commitments related to resolution of Potential Military Dimension (PMD) issues.
  • Any action by Iran to treat the legitimate imposition of sanctions by the US based on support for terrorism, abuses of human rights, or Iran’s ballistic or cruise missile activities as grounds to cease performing its commitments under the JCPOA would not be valid and would be inconsistent with the terms of the JCPOA.
  • There is no “grandfather clause” that would shield ongoing sanctionable activities by foreign firms in the event of a snap-back of Iran sanctions.