House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Rep. Ed Royce (R-Calif.) announced on Tuesday that Secretary of State John Kerry will appear before the committee on Dec. 10 to answer questions regarding the recent nuclear agreement with Iran.
The agreement between Iran and six world powers calls for a temporary hiatus of some components of Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for loosened economic sanctions while negotiations continue.
“I continue to have serious concerns that the agreement the Obama Administration negotiated does not meet the standards necessary to protect the United States and our allies,” Royce said. “The deal does not roll back Iran’s nuclear program, but instead allows Tehran to keep in place the key elements of its nuclear weapons-making capability. Under the agreement, the international community relieves the sanctions pressure on Iran while its centrifuges continue to enrich uranium.”
The committee hearing will allow legislators to ask questions of Kerry and for him to explain why he believes easing sanctions is the correct course of action, Royce added.
Royce co-authored the bipartisan Nuclear Iran Prevention Act with House Foreign Affairs Committee Ranking Member Rep. Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.).
The House of Representatives approved the measure, which calls for enhanced sanctions against Iran until its nuclear program is abolished, in July.
The Senate has not voted on the bill.