Does Trump have to submit the Iran memorandum of understanding to Congress?

What Happened

A US-Iran memorandum of understanding (MoU) was announced this week to end the US-Israeli war with Iran, opening the Strait of Hormuz, lifting the US blockade on Iranian ports, halting fighting on all fronts including Lebanon, immediately lifting US sanctions on Iran's fossil fuel industry, and launching negotiations on the future of Iran's nuclear programme. Both countries agreed to maintain their nuclear 'status quo' and Iran committed to diluting its highly enriched uranium on site. The MoU has sparked debate over whether President Trump must submit it to Congress under the 2015 Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act (INARA), which mandates submission of any agreement with Iran related to its nuclear programme for a 30-day review and possible vote of disapproval. Senator Lindsey Graham invoked INARA, demanding congressional review, while legal experts Tess Bridgeman and Jack Goldsmith argued the law applies, with Goldsmith contending the sanctions relief likely violates INARA's freeze on sanctions during the review period. Trump has indicated openness to sending the deal to Congress but his administration has not committed, and experts doubt Congress or the courts will confront him over non-compliance.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The MoU ends a major military engagement and reshapes US-Iran relations, impacting regional stability from the Strait of Hormuz to Lebanon and altering the trajectory of Iran's nuclear programme. The INARA debate tests the separation of powers over nuclear agreements and sanctions, potentially setting a precedent for congressional oversight of executive diplomacy, while the immediate sanctions relief raises legal and political questions about the limits of presidential authority.

Watch For

Trump's decision on whether to formally submit the MoU to Congress within INARA's five-day deadline; any congressional resolutions of disapproval and the subsequent veto dynamics (requiring a two-thirds override); the start of US-Iran nuclear negotiations and the implementation of sanctions relief, particularly the immediate oil sanctions waiver that may face legal challenges under INARA.