Iran sanctions renewal becomes law without Obama signature
WASHINGTON — In an unexpected reversal, President Barack Obama declined to sign a renewal of sanctions against Iran but let it become law anyway, in an apparent bid to alleviate Tehran’s concerns that the U.S. is backsliding on the nuclear deal.
Although the White House had said that Obama was expected to sign the 10-year-renewal, the midnight deadline came and went Thursday with no approval from the president. Instead, he opted to let it become law without his signature — a rare move that Obama has never used before.
White House spokesman Josh Earnest said the president’s decision was intended to send a direct message to lawmakers who passed the sanctions renewal over his objections.
“If Congress does blow up the deal that prevents Iran from getting a nuclear weapon, they’re going to have to deal with the consequences, and the consequences are grave,” Earnest said. He emphasized that the Obama administration can and will continue to waive the sanctions that were lifted as part of the nuclear deal.