World powers secretly discuss lifting UN sanctions against Iran

The P5+1 group (Russia, China, France, Britain, and the US plus Germany, has been discussing a draft UN Security Council resolution to begin relaxing UN sanctions on Iran – if a nuclear deal is reached with Tehran, said an unnamed Western official Thursday. The resolution would make the deal binding, and so allow the Obama administration to bypass US Senate objections and override the letter from 47 Republican Senators warning Iran that any agreement not ratified by the Senate could be revoked by the next US president.
In another letter, Republican Sen. Bob Corker warned President Obama against trying to “end-run” around Congress to secure UN approval for the controversial nuclear deal, while at the same time threatening to veto a congressional vote on it. This was “a direct affront” to the American people and would undermine the role of Congress, he said.

Adding to the confusion, State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said Washington was looking for a “non-binding” agreement rather than a full international treaty, because that would give the US “flexibility to snap back sanctions” if needed.