By staff and agency

U.S. Congress redoubles efforts to limit Trump’s Iran war powers

Twenty-eight lawmakers from both the Republican and Democratic parties are pushing legislation to ban the use of funds for military action against Iran without congressional authorization, according to an internal letter obtained by Foreign Policy.

U.S. lawmakers introduce resolution for U.S. re-entry into JCPOA

TEHRAN – Three U.S. lawmakers have introduced a resolution to urge the Trump administration to re-enter the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), commonly known as the Iran nuclear agreement.

By Martin Love

Those who temporarily are losing badly often do win

By the time this column is printed it’s more than likely Brett Kavanaugh will have won a seat on the U.S. Supreme Court, voted in by the slight majority of GOP senators in the U.S Congress… to the dismay and consternation of most all thoughtful Americans, including (notably) many hundreds of professors at law schools across the country.

Bipartisan amendment limits U.S. president over striking Iran

TEHRAN - A bipartisan amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday, May 24, stated Congress’s position that no law exists which gives the U.S. president the power to launch a military strike against Iran.

U.S. Congress unwilling to quit Iran deal: expert

TEHRAN – The U.S. Congress is not inclined to withdraw from the Iran nuclear agreement, but it is willing to modify it, a U.S. expert said, noting that the legislative body is evaluating the stances of their European allies.

By Maria Cardona

Trump's hateful remarks bring new level of shame to the nation

President Donald Trump, in a meeting Thursday with lawmakers discussing the Dream Act and immigration policy, tellingly asked why would we want more immigrants from “shithole countries?” He was specifically referring to immigrants from El Salvador, Haiti and Africa.

U.S. lawmakers pass bill on Iranian officials’ assets

TEHRAN – The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill on Wednesday obliging the Treasury Department to publish a report chronicling the financial assets of top Iranian officials.

By staff and agency

Congress misses Trump’s deadline on Iran nuclear deal

Congress is about to miss what was widely seen as a deadline to deal with U.S. President Trump’s demands for a harder line on the 2015 nuclear deal, failing to agree on new sanctions against Tehran.

By Martin Love 

Exceptionalism versus magnanimity

There is no reasonable justification for citizens anywhere to consider themselves or their country necessarily “exceptional”. When one is talking about particular governments pushing the meme of “exceptionalism” (rather than, say, humility) in some grandiose way, watch out. 

By Saeed Sobhani

U.S. failure in confrontation with Iran

TEHRAN _ The silence of the U.S. Congress on a nuclear deal with Iran shows that Washington has been confused about how it faces the deal. This confusion has intensified over the past weeks. However, over the next ten days, it seems that the U.S. Congress has announced its final deal on a nuclear deal. Some analysts believe that Congress intends to put more red lines on it, while maintaining a nuclear deal. This is despite the fact that the nuclear deal with Iran can not be changed fundamentally! This is something that most international actors are focusing on.

Yes, Trump with the nuclear codes is terrifying. But the threat of a first strike is a vital deterrent

Alarmed by President Trump’s bellicose statements and impulsive governing style, two congressional Democrats have introduced legislation that would prohibit the president — any president — from launching a nuclear first strike without a declaration of war by Congress explicitly endorsing such an attack.

By Saeed Sobhani

Counter - JCPOA attempts at U.S. congress

 TEHRAN _ Anti-JCPOA Measures of the U.S. Congress are still ongoing. Although officials and senators from the two Democratic and Republican parties have been silent over recent days, they will soon unveil the joint plan of Corker and Cotton. In other words, the U.S. Senate seeks to elaborate and theorize Donald Trump's demands regarding the JCPOA.

U.S. Congress moves bill threatening Iran nuclear deal

The U.S. Congress has taken another measure that make it more difficult for Iran to purchase commercial aircraft from firms that do business in the United States.

Mogherini in Washington to defend Iran nuclear deal 

TEHRAN – European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini on Monday left for Washington to defend the Iran nuclear deal.

U.S. government cannot hide behind congressional decisions

TEHRAN - Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Tuesday that the U.S. administration cannot “hide behind decisions by Congress”, noting the U.S. administration is held responsible for international agreements.

90 U.S. nuclear scientists urge Congress to protect Iran deal

TEHRAN – More than 90 top U.S. nuclear scientists have written a letter to Congress urging it to protect the 2015 nuclear agreement with Iran.

Top judge deplores Congress sanctions on Iran

TEHRAN – Judiciary Chief Ayatollah Sadeq Amoli Larijani on Monday railed against recent U.S. Congress sanctions against Iran, saying Washington has pursued such a failed policy for decades.

Zarif, Majlis mull over possible responses to Trump

TEHRAN – Iran will react strongly to any U.S. move against the nuclear deal with global powers, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif told the Majlis on Wednesday, according to a parliamentarian who attended the session.

Any country leaving the JCPOA will lose reputation, Rouhani says

Rouhani: U.S. angry because IRGC humiliated Daesh

TEHRAN – Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Wednesday any party that walks away from the multilateral 2015 nuclear agreement would be damaging its own reputation, adding the U.S. is angry with the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) because it has “humiliated” Daesh.

By Jake Novak

Republicans and Democrats are both finished

Stick a fork in the Democrats and Republicans. Wednesday night's latest round of deal making between President Donald Trump and Democratic congressional leaders is the latest evidence that the major political parties have lost all semblance of real power.

By Peter Apps

Amid White House chaos, a rise of the generals

When White House budget chief Mick Mulvaney was asked why President Donald Trump had appointed former Marine officer John Kelly as chief of staff, Mulvaney had a simple explanation. “You know that he enjoys working with generals,” he said.

By STEVEN ERLANGER & NEIL MacFARQUHAR

EU is uneasy, and divided, about U.S. sanctions on Russia

European Union officials are worried about a move to toughen United States sanctions against Russia, saying they may cause upheaval in Europe’s energy market.

Iran denounces new U.S. sanctions bill as illegal

TEHRAN – Iran’s Foreign Ministry on Wednesday denounced the U.S. Congress for approving a draft law on fresh sanctions against the Islamic Republic, saying Washington is ignoring its commitments under the July 2015 nuclear agreement.

By Jennifer Rubin

Trump's presidency can't be saved - so what happens next?

President's team scouring FBI investigator Robert Mueller's records in search of conflicts of interest and readying pardons as desperation over Russia controversy grows