Iran lawmakers curtailed on power to veto nuclear deal

Iran’s parliament curtails its own power to block a nuclear deal with world powers, effectively removing a longstanding threat that a final accord could be torn up by lawmakers.

A draft bill presented on Wednesday, which laid down strict criteria for Iran to accept any agreement, had threatened to complicate talks on a final accord, which are due to be finalized by June 30.

However, in a boost to President Hassan Rouhani’s government, key amendments to the proposed legislation will now move the formal supervision of a deal out of the hands of lawmakers.

The original text had set three key criteria that parliament would require to say had been met for an agreement to be binding.

But the amended bill instead gives that right of supervision to the country’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC).

The council comprises government ministers, military commanders and other top officials appointed by supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

It is chaired by Rouhani, who is pushing hard for a nuclear deal, but is ultimately controlled by Khamenei, who will have the final word on any nuclear accord.

— AFP