U.S. envoy to United Nations lays out argument to say Iran not abiding by nuclear deal

President Donald Trump’s envoy to the United Nations laid out an argument Tuesday for the U.S. to potentially declare Iran in violation of the nuclear deal, but suggested the Trump administration might then leave it to Congress to decide whether to withdraw.

In a speech to a conservative think-tank, U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley said she didn’t know what decision Trump would ultimately make, as a series of deadlines approach. But she said if he did decide against certifying Iran’s compliance, he’d be on solid ground, but added, “What happens next is significantly in Congress’ hands.”

“I get that Congress doesn’t want this. This is not an easy situation for Congress,” Haley said. “But our lives are not about being easy. Our lives are about being right.”

The Trump administration has been debating for months whether to scuttle the nuclear deal, as Trump threatened to do as a candidate, despite staunch opposition from U.S. allies who negotiated the deal with former President Barack Obama’s administration. Under pressure from both sides, the administration has been exploring possible halfway options, such as declaring Iran in violation but leaving its relief from nuclear sanctions in place at least temporarily.

Yet while a U.S. law passed to codify the nuclear deal gives lawmakers some oversight, the agreement is not a treaty. It’s been widely assumed until now that responsibility lies with the White House, not Congress, to determine continued U.S. participation in the deal.

Kicking the issue to Congress would also echo the president’s newly announced approach on immigration and another Obamaera program that shielded from deportation some immigrants brought to the U.S. illegally as children. Trump’s administration announced Tuesday the program “was being rescinded,” but Congress would have six months to try to come up with a legislative fix.