US House passes Iran nuclear review bill

WASHINGTON - The US House of Representatives on Thursday overwhelmingly passed legislation that would allow Congress to review and potentially reject a nuclear deal with Iran.

Congressmen voted 400-25 to pass the bill, which is now headed to President Barack Obama's desk for his signature. The Senate passed the bill last week in a 98-1 vote.

Obama had said he would sign the bill into law.

World powers are negotiating with Iran on a comprehensive nuclear deal that would lift economic sanctions on Iran in exchange for limits on its nuclear program. The two sides reached a framework agreement in March, and are seeking to finish a final deal by June 30.

The legislation would give Congress the power to review a nuclear deal with Iran for 30 days and bar Obama from lifting any Congressional sanctions against Iran during that period.

If lawmakers disapprove of the deal, and then override a likely veto from Obama, his administration would lose the current power to waive certain economic sanctions Congress has imposed on Iran.

The bill's passage ensures that "Congress is in a position to effectively and decisively judge and constrain President Obama's nuclear deal with Iran, should a bad deal be struck," said Ed Royce, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.