The White House wouldn’t rule out Tuesday that President Obama might take further steps to reinforce the Iranian nuclear deal, but said any action would not be a response to Donald Trump’s election.
“I do not anticipate any actions being taken … solely in response to Mr. Trump’s victory,” said White House press secretary Josh Earnest. “If there are actions, they have been in the pipeline for some time and are consistent with the deal.”
Mr. Trump promised during the campaign to renegotiate the deal, which lifted sanctions on Tehran in return for limits on Iran’s nuclear program.
House Republican leaders are urging Mr. Obama to take no more action on Iran that could reinforce the nuclear deal before he leaves office.
Speaker Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy of California and Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce of California issued the request in a letter to Mr. Obama dated Tuesday.
The Republicans say they expect to pass a bill soon extending Iran sanctions. They say signing it should be Mr. Obama’s only further step on Iran.
The leaders say Mr. Obama shouldn’t waive sanctions, grant new commerce licenses or issue new guidance to companies about doing business legally in Iran.
The leaders say Mr. Trump deserves the chance to assess U.S. policy toward Iran without Mr. Obama making it more complicated.
• This article is based in part on wire service reports.
• Dave Boyer can be reached at dboyer@washingtontimes.com.
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