Leader Schumer Floor Remarks On Trump’s Reported Secret Side Deal With Iran

Washington, D.C. – Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) today spoke on the Senate floor regarding reporting that the Trump administration is seeking a side deal with Iran with respect to the nuclear negotiations bypassing Congressional oversight and leaving the American people in the dark. Below are Senator Schumer’s remarks, which can also be viewed here:

White House envoy Steve Witkoff and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have said publicly that the U.S. will not allow Iran to enrich uranium, and will demand the full dismantlement of Iran's nuclear facilities.

But earlier today, Axios reported that there’s a proposed side deal in the works between the Trump administration and Iran that will give them far more flexibility on their nuclear ambitions.

This report, if true, is terribly troubling. What is in this so-called side deal? The administration needs to come clean immediately and make it public, or else risk squandering crucial leverage against Iran.

Any negotiation with Iran should openly and transparently use all of our leverage and address non-nuclear issues, like their support for terrorism and regional proxies.

The administration must clarify what they might be hiding from the American people.

Some of my colleagues on the other side said in 2015, with regards to early negotiations on the last Iran nuclear deal, that the administration essentially asked Congress to trust but not verify. That's what they said back then.

It is disturbing that the Trump administration is preparing to do just that: cut a secret side-deal that avoids Congressional oversight and asks Congress to trust, but not verify.

Any deal between the U.S. and Iran must be one Congress and the public can fully and transparently evaluate.

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