Envoys: UN likely to wait for US Congress before moving on Iran deal
UNITED NATIONS - If Iran and world powers reach a nuclear deal, the United Nations Security Council will likely delay for at least a month action to lift UN nuclear sanctions on Tehran so US Congress can review the agreement, officials said.
Western officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said it was an unwelcome development but politically necessary since Congress, dominated by Republicans critical of President Barack Obama's engagement with Iran, does not want the 15-member council to speak first.
They said Congress would see that as prejudging any deal granting Iran sanctions relief in exchange for curbing sensitive nuclear activities for at least a decade.
Iran appears to be reluctantly accepting the delay. "It seems there is no other choice," a senior Iranian official said on condition of anonymity. "Are we happy about it? Of course not."
