Summary
# S. 472: IRAN NUCLEAR TREATY ACT
## WHAT THIS BILL DOES
This bill says that any agreement the President makes about Iran's nuclear program must be treated as a treaty. That means the Senate (one part of Congress) must approve it, with two-thirds of Senators agreeing. The bill also stops the President from removing penalties or sanctions (punishments like restrictions or money penalties) on Iran through an agreement unless the Senate approves it as a treaty.
## WHO IT AFFECTS
The President, the Senate, and Iran are directly affected by this bill.
## KEY PROVISIONS
- Any agreement the President reaches with Iran about its nuclear program is considered a treaty requiring Senate approval with two-thirds of Senators agreeing (Sec. 2(a))
- The President cannot remove, reduce, pause or provide relief from penalties on Iran through any agreement (political commitment or legally binding) unless the Senate approves it as a treaty with two-thirds agreement (Sec. 2(b))
- The ban on penalty relief applies to any related materials including side agreements, implementing documents, technical understandings and related agreements made before or in the future (Sec. 2(b))
## WHAT CHANGES
If this becomes law, the President loses the power to make Iran nuclear agreements or remove Iran penalties on their own. Instead, the Senate would have to vote to approve any such agreement by a two-thirds majority.
## IMPORTANT DEFINITIONS
None defined in bill text.
## EFFECTIVE DATE
Not specified in bill text.
II
118TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
S. 472
To declare that any agreement reached by the President relating to the
nuclear program of Iran is deemed a treaty that is subject to the
advice and consent of the Senate, and for other purposes.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
FEBRUARY 16, 2023
Mr. JOHNSON (for himself, Mr. BARRASSO, Mr. BOOZMAN, Mrs. BRITT, Mr.
BRAUN, Mr. COTTON, Mr. CRAPO, Mr. CRUZ, Mr. DAINES, Ms. ERNST,
Mrs. FISCHER, Mr. HAGERTY, Mr. HOEVEN, Mrs. HYDE-SMITH, Mr.
LEE, Ms. LUMMIS, Mr. MARSHALL, Mr. ROUNDS, Mr. RUBIO, Mr. SCOTT
of Florida, Mr. SULLIVAN, Mr. TILLIS, and Mr. YOUNG) introduced the
following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on
Foreign Relations
A BILL
To declare that any agreement reached by the President
relating to the nuclear program of Iran is deemed a
treaty that is subject to the advice and consent of the
Senate, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
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tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
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This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Iran Nuclear Treaty
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Act’’.
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•S 472 IS
SEC. 2. AGREEMENTS RELATED TO NUCLEAR PROGRAM OF
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IRAN DEEMED TREATIES SUBJECT TO AD-
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VICE AND CONSENT OF THE SENATE.
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(a) TREATY SUBJECT TO ADVICE AND CONSENT OF
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THE SENATE.—Notwithstanding any other provision of
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law, any agreement reached by the President with Iran
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relating to the nuclear program of Iran is deemed to be
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a treaty that is subject to the requirements of article II,
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section 2, clause 2 of the Constitution of the United States
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requiring that the treaty is subject to the advice and con-
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sent of the Senate, with two-thirds of Senators concurring.
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(b) LIMITATION ON SANCTIONS RELIEF.—Notwith-
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standing any other provision of law, the President may
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not waive, suspend, reduce, provide relief from, or other-
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wise limit the application of sanctions under any other
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provision of law or refrain from applying any such sanc-
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tions pursuant to an agreement related to the nuclear pro-
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gram of Iran that includes the United States, commits the
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United States to take action, or pursuant to which the
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United States commits or otherwise agrees to take action,
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regardless of the form it takes, whether a political commit-
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ment or otherwise, and regardless of whether it is legally
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binding or not, including any joint comprehensive plan of
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action entered into or made between Iran and any other
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parties, and any additional materials related thereto, in-
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cluding annexes, appendices, codicils, side agreements, im-
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•S 472 IS
plementing materials, documents, and guidance, technical
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or other understandings, and any related agreements,
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whether entered into or implemented prior to the agree-
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ment or to be entered into or implemented in the future,
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unless the agreement is subject to the advice and consent
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of the Senate as a treaty and receives the concurrence of
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two-thirds of Senators.
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Æ
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