Royce skeptical of nuclear deal with Iran

House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Rep. Ed Royce (R-Calif.) expressed concern on Monday with a deal reached between Iran and six world powers over the weekend regarding Iran’s nuclear weapons program.

The United States, France, Germany, Britain, China and Russia agreed to ease sanctions against Iran in exchange for Iran agreeing to stop enrichment of high-grade uranium. The deal, which was reached in Geneva, is designed to be the first in a series of confidence-building steps.

“I have serious concerns that this agreement does not meet the standards necessary to protect the United States and our allies,” Royce said. “Instead of rolling back Iran’s program, Tehran would be able to keep the key elements of its nuclear weapons-making capability. Yet we are the ones doing the dismantling – relieving Iran of the sanctions pressure built up over years.”

Royce called on Secretary of State John Kerry to appear before the House Foreign Affairs Committee to answer questions related to the agreement.

Royce authored the bipartisan Nuclear Iran Prevention Act, which was passed by the House of Representatives in July and has not reached the Senate floor. The measure would expand economic and human rights sanctions against Iran and provide more oversight of existing sanctions.