Iran Benefits From Nuke Deal, Tenn. Senator Corker Says Leverage Lost

US Secretary of State John Kerry, center, speaks at negations with Iran in Geneva, last November. Kerry insists the short-term deal is only a first step to a comprehensive agreement on Iran’s nuclear program. Image: US State Department

Tennessee Senator Bob Corker says Iran is reaping major economic benefits from a short-term deal over uranium enrichment, but the top Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee says the county doesn’t have to make sacrifices to its nuclear program.

The interim agreement relaxed some of the sanctions against Iran, in exchange for limiting its nuclear program. Appearing on MSNBC yesterday, Corker says the deal opens the door for countries like Turkey and Russia to do more business with Iran. If that happens, the country won’t have an incentive to reach a final settlement.

“We’re losing our leverage economically,” Corker said.  “If you look at every indicator-their currency is rising, inflation is falling, the economy is growing, people’s expectation is they’re not going to be the rogue country they’ve been.”

The Senator heard from Obama Administration officials in a hearing this week. They stressed the deal reached in November is only a first step. Corker wants Congress to vote on new Iran sanctions this summer, once the interim deal has run its course. President Obama has threatened to veto any new sanctions.