House passes bill to increase oversight of nuclear deal

The US House of Representatives passes Republican-backed legislation that would give Congress greater oversight of the landmark Iran nuclear agreement.

Lawmakers vote 191-106 Wednesday to approve the bill. They act less than 24 hours after Tehran detained, and then released, 10 US Navy sailors who had drifted into Iranian territorial waters.

Republicans seize on the incident as further evidence Iran can’t be trusted. They say that since the agreement was reached in July, Tehran has tested ballistic missiles in violation of existing UN sanctions and continued to support terrorism.

The White House says the bill could upend the agreement and that the president will veto the measure if it reaches his desk.

The US is set to begin lifting sanctions against Iran as Tehran fulfills its obligations under the deal.

— AP