Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, issued this statement following passage, by a vote of 400-25, of the bipartisan Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015:

“We know that Iran’s rush to a nuclear weapon is a mortal threat to the U.S. and our allies.  In fact, the stakes couldn’t be higher.

“This bipartisan legislation is an important and responsible response to an Administration that otherwise would shut Congress out of the process of approving a final nuclear deal with Iran.  Once this legislation is signed, Congress will be in a much better position to judge any final agreement to ensure that the Obama Administration hasn’t struck a bad deal.   In fact, our diplomacy will have a better shot because of this legislation.  Instead of Iranian negotiators knowing that they can wear-down the Administration, they now know that Congress has been added as an important back-stop.  When Secretary Kerry sits across from the Iranians, he’ll now have on his mind – ‘I’ve got to take this to Congress.’

“U.S. diplomats should now head to the negotiating table with a stronger hand, work for a credible deal, a verifiable deal, and then present it to Congress to be judged.  That’s only appropriate given the incredible consequences for the region, our allies, and for the national security of the United States.

“I commend Senators Corker and Cardin for their solid work on this important legislation.”

Note:  Chairman Royce, along with Ranking Member Eliot Engel (D-NY), is the author of H.R. 850, the Nuclear Iran Prevention Act, which passed the House 400-20 in July 31, 2013.

###