Azernews.Az

By Sara Rajabova

U.S. President Barack Obama, who will leave his post in January 2017, is determined not to allow any action that can obstacle implementation of the Iran nuclear deal reached between world powers and the Islamic Republic last July.

Obama seeks to veto a Republican-sponsored bill which will prevent the United States from meeting its obligations under the nuclear deal, the White House reported on January 11. The bill, the Iran Terror Finance Transparency Act passed the House Foreign Affairs Committee last week and was expected to reach the House floor on January 13.

The Obama administration attaches special importance to the Iran nuclear deal as it is regarded one of the main foreign policy achievements of the administration. Therefore, Obama is taking more efforts to prevent any act that would be harmful for the agreement that put an end to long-lasting nuclear dispute between the West and Iran.

The administration asserted that if the document will go to the president for his signature, then "he will veto it".

The bill envisages lifting of economic sanctions against Iran, including the unblocking of its assets, only if the Obama administration notifies the Congress that Iranian institutions, including banks, are not used for the financing of certain Iranian structures, in particular, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps - elite units of the armed forces.

The document also envisages other provisions that create insurmountable obstacles to implementation of the nuclear deal.

Over the past six months the U.S. Congress has attempted to pass a bill blocking an agreement with Iran, but every time they faced either the staunch opposition of Democrats, or a presidential veto. Despite winning a two-thirds vote in both chambers, the Republicans cannot overcome the presidential veto because they have a simple, but not a qualified majority of seats in Congress.

Iran struck the deal with world powers last year that imposed curbs on its nuclear program in return for easing sanctions that have badly hurt its oil exports and development of its oil and gas fields.

Currently, the world powers and Iran are expecting the soonest removal of international sanctions. Lifting the sanctions would clear the way for an influx of cash to reinvigorate Iran's out-dated oil and gas industry.

European Union’s Foreign Policy Chief Federica Mogherini has recently said though there is no set date yet, but the move could come soon.

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Sara Rajabova is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @SaraRajabova

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