Yesterday we reported that State Department spokesman John Kirby refused to answer a question on “side deals” between the IAEA and Iran on its nuclear program.
Well that didn’t work out so well so the White House finally admitted that there were indeed side deals and dispatched Secretary of State John Kerry to brief Congress and explain what’s going on.
And that didn’t go so well either as John Kerry reportedly told those he briefed that he had not seen the side deals either and doesn’t have the documents:
Rep Pompeo says he asked Kerry about the side deals ion Iran today: He confirmed..there were..deals & he himself had not seen the agreement
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) July 22, 2015
Sen Cotton on Iran: Now it's come to light we don't have the documents. There's a real question about whether the clock started
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) July 22, 2015
The briefing was described as “contentious.” You think?
Durbin says the Iran briefing was "contentious at times" but the administration gave "forthright answers"
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) July 22, 2015
And there are still questions:
After Iran brfng, Rubio says he needs "clarity on exactly how much money the sanctions deliver to the Iranians"
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) July 22, 2015
So, what’s in those agreements anyway? It certainly doesn’t sound like the White House is going to let Congress see them to find out for themselves. From The Hill:
The White House on Wednesday acknowledged the existence of so-called “side” agreements between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency that have sparked new arguments against the Iran nuclear deal.
National Security Adviser Susan Rice on Wednesday rejected GOP assertions that there are “secret” side deals to the Iran pact, but pledged that lawmakers would be briefed on their contents in classified briefings.
“We’re satisfied with them and we will share the contents of those briefings in full in a classified session with the Congress,” she told reporters. “So there’s nothing in that regard that we know that they won’t know.”
In other words, “Trust us!” No, really … that’s what they’re saying:
@ambassadorRice on IAEA side deals w Iran: “we have been briefed on those documents. We know their contents. We are satisfied with them.”
— Jonathan Greenberg (@JGreenbergSez) July 23, 2015
And the IAEA won’t tell Congress what’s in the side deals either:
IAEA Tells Congressmen of Two Secret Side Deals to Iran Agreement That Won’t Be Shared… http://t.co/TGpU5woIVD pic.twitter.com/mr4JeJtYdT
— National Review (@NRO) July 23, 2015
This just gets better and better!
Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas was on “Morning Joe” this morning, ripping John Kerry for “washed his hands” of the side deals with the IAEA , like “Pontius Pilot. “Ouch:
.@SenTomCotton on IAEA-Iran 'side' deals: @JohnKerry acted 'like a Pontius Pilate' http://t.co/7JbIRJYYii
— Morning Joe (@Morning_Joe) July 23, 2015
Over to you, President Obama. What are you hiding?
***
Related:
Thousands turn out in Times Square to protest ‘very good’ Iran nuclear deal [photos]
Join the conversation as a VIP Member