Iran MPs cede power to block nuclear deal

IT LIFTS THREAT THAT FINAL PACT COULD BE HALTED BY LAWMAKERS

Iran’s parliament curtailed its own power to block a nuclear deal with world powers yesterday, effectively removing a longstanding threat that a final accord could be torn up by lawmakers.

A draft bill presented on Wednesday, which laid down strict criteria for Iran to accept any agreement, had threatened to complicate talks on a final accord, which are due to be finalised by June 30.

However, in a boost to President Hassan Rouhani’s government, key amendments to the proposed legislation will now move the formal supervision of a deal out of the hands of lawmakers. The original text had set criteria that parliament would have to say had been met for an agreement to be binding.

But the amended bill instead gives the right of supervision to the country’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC). The council comprises ministers, military commanders and appointees of supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

“Whatever decision the leader takes in this regard, we should obey in parliament,” speaker Ali Larijani said after 199 MPs voted for the amendments in the 290-member chamber. “We should not tie the hands of the leader,” he added.

Any deal will still have to be ratified by Tehran’s parliament but it would be highly unlikely by that stage that lawmakers would oppose a text approved by the SNSC.

Other reports said the Islamic Republic’s parliament has voted to ban access to military sites, documents and scientists.

Of 213 lawmakers present yesterday, 199 voted in favour of the bill, which also demands the complete lifting of all sanctions.