A bipartisan legislative initiative in Congress seeks to tighten oversight of Iran's nuclear program.
Under the proposal, initiated by Republican Sen. Lindsay Graham and his Democratic counterpart Bob Menendez - both of Israel's most prominent supporters in Washington - the administration will be required to submit a detailed periodic report to Congress on the state of the nuclear program.
If passed, the legislation would make Congress more involved in the issue, and give weight against the White House's relatively conciliatory approach to Iran.
According to the bill, the U.S. Secretary of State will establish a task force composed of officials in the State Department, in the headquarters of the U.S. National Intelligence Agency, in the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and in the Department of Energy.
The task force will produce a four-month periodic congressional report on the current state of Iran's nuclear program, including a reduction in resolutions regarding the uranium enrichment project, the development of the nuclear warhead, the missile program and other actions defined as "threatening US citizens and officials." In addition, in any case of significant progress in the nuclear program, the task force will be required to issue a special report to Congress within 72 hours.
The nuclear facility in Purdue, Photo: AFP
Under the legislative initiative, the administration will also be required to present an annual strategy that proposes a "comprehensive plan for talks on Iran's nuclear program with its US partners and allies." Of the U.S. in an area threatened by Iran.
Such coordination still exists today, but it is not subject to the supervision of Congress and therefore leaves complete freedom of action for the administration, which takes a relatively soft stance towards Iran.
The bill also states that "in the Congress's, the United States must take every possible action required to ensure that the Islamic Republic of Iran does not develop nuclear weapons capabilities." Use of all US national resources to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
Aaron David Miller, a US Middle East expert and former State Department official, told the Jewish Insider website that "the legislative initiative is an insult to the administration. It actually tells him: 'We think you fell asleep at the wheel and we do not trust your ability to oversee Iran's nuclear program. ".
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