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## US-Iran Memorandum of Understanding – Congressional Oversight Dispute ### Overview Following the Trump administration's conclusion of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Iran, a legal and political dispute has emerged over whether the executive branch is required to submit the document to Congress under a 2015 law, according to Al Jazeera (Al Jazeera, June 19). The Iran deputy foreign minister has separately stated Iran is "ready to move forward" in a deal with the US, while conditioning progress on the US ensuring Israel stops attacks on Lebanon (Al Jazeera, June 19). ### The Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act (INARA) 2015 The Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015 requires the President to submit any "agreement" with Iran relating to its nuclear program to Congress for review. The law was passed with bipartisan support following the Obama administration's negotiation of the JCPOA. Key legal questions now in dispute include: - Whether an MOU qualifies as an "agreement" triggering INARA's submission requirements - Whether executive privilege or the President's foreign affairs powers allow withholding the document - The consequences of non-submission — including whether Congress can block implementation ### Administration Position The Trump administration has not publicly committed to submitting the MOU to Congress, and the framing as a "memorandum of understanding" rather than a formal "agreement" may be a deliberate effort to avoid INARA's requirements (Al Jazeera, June 19). ### Congressional Response Members of both parties have reportedly questioned whether INARA requires submission. The outcome has significant constitutional implications for the separation of powers in foreign affairs and arms control contexts. ### Broader Negotiation Status - Iran's deputy FM Khatibzadeh has told Al Jazeera that diplomacy is the way forward but that the US must ensure Israel stops attacks on Lebanon as a precondition for progress (Al Jazeera, June 19). - A new round of Israel-Lebanon talks in Washington has been announced, linked to the broader US-Iran diplomatic framework (Al Jazeera, June 19). ### Strategic Relevance The INARA dispute is a live constitutional law question with precedential implications for executive branch authority over international agreements, particularly in arms control and sanctions contexts.