PUBLIC LAW 114–17—MAY 22, 2015 129 STAT. 201 

Public Law 114–17 

114th Congress 

An Act 

To provide for congressional review and oversight of agreements relating to Iran’s 

nuclear program, and for other purposes. 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 

the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Iran Nuclear Agreement Review 

Act of 2015’’. 

SEC. 2. CONGRESSIONAL REVIEW AND OVERSIGHT OF AGREEMENTS 

WITH IRAN RELATING TO THE NUCLEAR PROGRAM OF IRAN. 

The Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.) is 

amended by inserting after section 134 the following new section: 

‘‘SEC. 135. CONGRESSIONAL REVIEW AND OVERSIGHT OF AGREEMENTS 

WITH IRAN. 

‘‘(a) TRANSMISSION TO CONGRESS OF NUCLEAR AGREEMENTS

WITH IRAN AND VERIFICATION ASSESSMENT WITH RESPECT TO SUCH

AGREEMENTS.— 

‘‘(1) TRANSMISSION OF AGREEMENTS.—Not later than 5 calendar days after reaching an agreement with Iran relating 

to the nuclear program of Iran, the President shall transmit 

to the appropriate congressional committees and leadership— 

‘‘(A) the agreement, as defined in subsection (h)(1), 

including all related materials and annexes; 

‘‘(B) a verification assessment report of the Secretary 

of State prepared under paragraph (2) with respect to 

the agreement; and 

‘‘(C) a certification that— 

‘‘(i) the agreement includes the appropriate terms, 

conditions, and duration of the agreement’s requirements with respect to Iran’s nuclear activities and 

provisions describing any sanctions to be waived, suspended, or otherwise reduced by the United States, 

and any other nation or entity, including the United 

Nations; and 

‘‘(ii) the President determines the agreement meets 

United States non-proliferation objectives, does not 

jeopardize the common defense and security, provides 

an adequate framework to ensure that Iran’s nuclear 

activities permitted thereunder will not be inimical 

to or constitute an unreasonable risk to the common 

defense and security, and ensures that Iran’s nuclear 

activities permitted thereunder will not be used to 

Determination. 

Certification. 

Deadline. 

President. 

42 USC 2160e. 

Iran Nuclear 

Agreement 

Review Act 

of 2015. 

42 USC 2011 

note. 

May 22, 2015 

[H.R. 1191] 


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129 STAT. 202 PUBLIC LAW 114–17—MAY 22, 2015 

further any nuclear-related military or nuclear explosive purpose, including for any research on or development of any nuclear explosive device or any other 

nuclear-related military purpose. 

‘‘(2) VERIFICATION ASSESSMENT REPORT.— 

‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of State shall prepare, with respect to an agreement described in paragraph 

(1), a report assessing— 

‘‘(i) the extent to which the Secretary will be able 

to verify that Iran is complying with its obligations 

and commitments under the agreement; 

‘‘(ii) the adequacy of the safeguards and other control mechanisms and other assurances contained in 

the agreement with respect to Iran’s nuclear program 

to ensure Iran’s activities permitted thereunder will 

not be used to further any nuclear-related military 

or nuclear explosive purpose, including for any research 

on or development of any nuclear explosive device or 

any other nuclear-related military purpose; and 

‘‘(iii) the capacity and capability of the International Atomic Energy Agency to effectively implement the verification regime required by or related 

to the agreement, including whether the International 

Atomic Energy Agency will have sufficient access to 

investigate suspicious sites or allegations of covert 

nuclear-related activities and whether it has the 

required funding, manpower, and authority to undertake the verification regime required by or related 

to the agreement. 

‘‘(B) ASSUMPTIONS.—In preparing a report under 

subparagraph (A) with respect to an agreement described 

in paragraph (1), the Secretary shall assume that Iran 

could— 

‘‘(i) use all measures not expressly prohibited by 

the agreement to conceal activities that violate its 

obligations and commitments under the agreement; 

and 

‘‘(ii) alter or deviate from standard practices in 

order to impede efforts to verify that Iran is complying 

with those obligations and commitments. 

‘‘(C) CLASSIFIED ANNEX.—A report under subparagraph 

(A) shall be transmitted in unclassified form, but shall 

include a classified annex prepared in consultation with 

the Director of National Intelligence, summarizing relevant 

classified information. 

‘‘(3) EXCEPTION.— 

‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Neither the requirements of subparagraphs (B) and (C) of paragraph (1), nor subsections 

(b) through (g) of this section, shall apply to an agreement 

described in subsection (h)(5) or to the EU-Iran Joint Statement made on April 2, 2015. 

‘‘(B) ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENT.—Notwithstanding 

subparagraph (A), any agreement as defined in subsection 

(h)(1) and any related materials, whether concluded before 

or after the date of the enactment of this section, shall 

not be subject to the exception in subparagraph (A). 

Consultation. 


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PUBLIC LAW 114–17—MAY 22, 2015 129 STAT. 203 

‘‘(b) PERIOD FOR REVIEW BY CONGRESS OF NUCLEAR AGREEMENTS WITH IRAN.— 

‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—During the 30-calendar day period following transmittal by the President of an agreement pursuant 

to subsection (a), the Committee on Foreign Relations of the 

Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House 

of Representatives shall, as appropriate, hold hearings and 

briefings and otherwise obtain information in order to fully 

review such agreement. 

‘‘(2) EXCEPTION.—The period for congressional review under 

paragraph (1) shall be 60 calendar days if an agreement, 

including all materials required to be transmitted to Congress 

pursuant to subsection (a)(1), is transmitted pursuant to subsection (a) between July 10, 2015, and September 7, 2015. 

‘‘(3) LIMITATION ON ACTIONS DURING INITIAL CONGRESSIONAL

REVIEW PERIOD.—Notwithstanding any other provision of law, 

except as provided in paragraph (6), prior to and during the 

period for transmission of an agreement in subsection (a)(1) 

and during the period for congressional review provided in 

paragraph (1), including any additional period as applicable 

under the exception provided in paragraph (2), the President 

may not waive, suspend, reduce, provide relief from, or otherwise limit the application of statutory sanctions with respect 

to Iran under any provision of law or refrain from applying 

any such sanctions pursuant to an agreement described in 

subsection (a). 

‘‘(4) LIMITATION ON ACTIONS DURING PRESIDENTIAL CONSIDERATION OF A JOINT RESOLUTION OF DISAPPROVAL.—Notwithstanding any other provision of law, except as provided in 

paragraph (6), if a joint resolution of disapproval described 

in subsection (c)(2)(B) passes both Houses of Congress, the 

President may not waive, suspend, reduce, provide relief from, 

or otherwise limit the application of statutory sanctions with 

respect to Iran under any provision of law or refrain from 

applying any such sanctions pursuant to an agreement 

described in subsection (a) for a period of 12 calendar days 

following the date of such passage. 

‘‘(5) LIMITATION ON ACTIONS DURING CONGRESSIONAL

RECONSIDERATION OF A JOINT RESOLUTION OF DISAPPROVAL.— 

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, except as provided 

in paragraph (6), if a joint resolution of disapproval described 

in subsection (c)(2)(B) passes both Houses of Congress, and 

the President vetoes such joint resolution, the President may 

not waive, suspend, reduce, provide relief from, or otherwise 

limit the application of statutory sanctions with respect to 

Iran under any provision of law or refrain from applying any 

such sanctions pursuant to an agreement described in subsection (a) for a period of 10 calendar days following the date 

of the President’s veto. 

‘‘(6) EXCEPTION.—The prohibitions under paragraphs (3) 

through (5) do not apply to any new deferral, waiver, or other 

suspension of statutory sanctions pursuant to the Joint Plan 

of Action if that deferral, waiver, or other suspension is made— 

‘‘(A) consistent with the law in effect on the date of 

the enactment of the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act 

of 2015; and 

Hearings. 

Briefings. 


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129 STAT. 204 PUBLIC LAW 114–17—MAY 22, 2015 

‘‘(B) not later than 45 calendar days before the transmission by the President of an agreement, assessment 

report, and certification under subsection (a). 

‘‘(7) DEFINITION.—In the House of Representatives, for purposes of this subsection, the terms ‘transmittal,’ ‘transmitted,’ 

and ‘transmission’ mean transmittal, transmitted, and transmission, respectively, to the Speaker of the House of Representatives. 

‘‘(c) EFFECT OF CONGRESSIONAL ACTION WITH RESPECT TO

NUCLEAR AGREEMENTS WITH IRAN.— 

‘‘(1) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Congress that— 

‘‘(A) the sanctions regime imposed on Iran by Congress 

is primarily responsible for bringing Iran to the table to 

negotiate on its nuclear program; 

‘‘(B) these negotiations are a critically important 

matter of national security and foreign policy for the United 

States and its closest allies; 

‘‘(C) this section does not require a vote by Congress 

for the agreement to commence; 

‘‘(D) this section provides for congressional review, 

including, as appropriate, for approval, disapproval, or no 

action on statutory sanctions relief under an agreement; 

and 

‘‘(E) even though the agreement may commence, 

because the sanctions regime was imposed by Congress 

and only Congress can permanently modify or eliminate 

that regime, it is critically important that Congress have 

the opportunity, in an orderly and deliberative manner, 

to consider and, as appropriate, take action affecting the 

statutory sanctions regime imposed by Congress. 

‘‘(2) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other provision of 

law, action involving any measure of statutory sanctions relief 

by the United States pursuant to an agreement subject to 

subsection (a) or the Joint Plan of Action— 

‘‘(A) may be taken, consistent with existing statutory 

requirements for such action, if, during the period for 

review provided in subsection (b), there is enacted a joint 

resolution stating in substance that the Congress does favor 

the agreement; 

‘‘(B) may not be taken if, during the period for review 

provided in subsection (b), there is enacted a joint resolution stating in substance that the Congress does not favor 

the agreement; or 

‘‘(C) may be taken, consistent with existing statutory 

requirements for such action, if, following the period for 

review provided in subsection (b), there is not enacted 

any such joint resolution. 

‘‘(3) DEFINITION.—For the purposes of this subsection, the 

phrase ‘action involving any measure of statutory sanctions 

relief by the United States’ shall include waiver, suspension, 

reduction, or other effort to provide relief from, or otherwise 

limit the application of statutory sanctions with respect to, 

Iran under any provision of law or any other effort to refrain 

from applying any such sanctions. 

‘‘(d) CONGRESSIONAL OVERSIGHT OF IRANIAN COMPLIANCE WITH

NUCLEAR AGREEMENTS.— 

President. 

Deadline. 


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PUBLIC LAW 114–17—MAY 22, 2015 129 STAT. 205 

‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The President shall keep the appropriate 

congressional committees and leadership fully and currently 

informed of all aspects of Iranian compliance with respect to 

an agreement subject to subsection (a). 

‘‘(2) POTENTIALLY SIGNIFICANT BREACHES AND COMPLIANCE

INCIDENTS.—The President shall, within 10 calendar days of 

receiving credible and accurate information relating to a potentially significant breach or compliance incident by Iran with 

respect to an agreement subject to subsection (a), submit such 

information to the appropriate congressional committees and 

leadership. 

‘‘(3) MATERIAL BREACH REPORT.—Not later than 30 calendar 

days after submitting information about a potentially significant breach or compliance incident pursuant to paragraph (2), 

the President shall make a determination whether such potentially significant breach or compliance issue constitutes a material breach and, if there is such a material breach, whether 

Iran has cured such material breach, and shall submit to the 

appropriate congressional committees and leadership such 

determination, accompanied by, as appropriate, a report on 

the action or failure to act by Iran that led to the material 

breach, actions necessary for Iran to cure the breach, and 

the status of Iran’s efforts to cure the breach. 

‘‘(4) SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT.—Not later than 180 calendar 

days after entering into an agreement described in subsection 

(a), and not less frequently than once every 180 calendar days 

thereafter, the President shall submit to the appropriate 

congressional committees and leadership a report on Iran’s 

nuclear program and the compliance of Iran with the agreement 

during the period covered by the report, including the following 

elements: 

‘‘(A) Any action or failure to act by Iran that breached 

the agreement or is in noncompliance with the terms of 

the agreement. 

‘‘(B) Any delay by Iran of more than one week in 

providing inspectors access to facilities, people, and documents in Iran as required by the agreement. 

‘‘(C) Any progress made by Iran to resolve concerns 

by the International Atomic Energy Agency about possible 

military dimensions of Iran’s nuclear program. 

‘‘(D) Any procurement by Iran of materials in violation 

of the agreement or which could otherwise significantly 

advance Iran’s ability to obtain a nuclear weapon. 

‘‘(E) Any centrifuge research and development conducted by Iran that— 

‘‘(i) is not in compliance with the agreement; or 

‘‘(ii) may substantially reduce the breakout time 

of acquisition of a nuclear weapon by Iran, if deployed. 

‘‘(F) Any diversion by Iran of uranium, carbon-fiber, 

or other materials for use in Iran’s nuclear program in 

violation of the agreement. 

‘‘(G) Any covert nuclear activities undertaken by Iran, 

including any covert nuclear weapons-related or covert 

fissile material activities or research and development. 

‘‘(H) An assessment of whether any Iranian financial 

institutions are engaged in money laundering or terrorist 

Assessment. 


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129 STAT. 206 PUBLIC LAW 114–17—MAY 22, 2015 

finance activities, including names of specific financial 

institutions if applicable. 

‘‘(I) Iran’s advances in its ballistic missile program, 

including developments related to its long-range and intercontinental ballistic missile programs. 

‘‘(J) An assessment of— 

‘‘(i) whether Iran directly supported, financed, 

planned, or carried out an act of terrorism against 

the United States or a United States person anywhere 

in the world; 

‘‘(ii) whether, and the extent to which, Iran supported acts of terrorism, including acts of terrorism 

against the United States or a United States person 

anywhere in the world; 

‘‘(iii) all actions, including in international fora, 

being taken by the United States to stop, counter, 

and condemn acts by Iran to directly or indirectly 

carry out acts of terrorism against the United States 

and United States persons; 

‘‘(iv) the impact on the national security of the 

United States and the safety of United States citizens 

as a result of any Iranian actions reported under this 

paragraph; and 

‘‘(v) all of the sanctions relief provided to Iran, 

pursuant to the agreement, and a description of the 

relationship between each sanction waived, suspended, 

or deferred and Iran’s nuclear weapon’s program. 

‘‘(K) An assessment of whether violations of internationally recognized human rights in Iran have changed, 

increased, or decreased, as compared to the prior 180- 

day period. 

‘‘(5) ADDITIONAL REPORTS AND INFORMATION.— 

‘‘(A) AGENCY REPORTS.—Following submission of an 

agreement pursuant to subsection (a) to the appropriate 

congressional committees and leadership, the Department 

of State, the Department of Energy, and the Department 

of Defense shall, upon the request of any of those committees or leadership, promptly furnish to those committees 

or leadership their views as to whether the safeguards 

and other controls contained in the agreement with respect 

to Iran’s nuclear program provide an adequate framework 

to ensure that Iran’s activities permitted thereunder will 

not be inimical to or constitute an unreasonable risk to 

the common defense and security. 

‘‘(B) PROVISION OF INFORMATION ON NUCLEAR INITIATIVES WITH IRAN.—The President shall keep the appropriate 

congressional committees and leadership fully and currently informed of any initiative or negotiations with Iran 

relating to Iran’s nuclear program, including any new or 

amended agreement. 

‘‘(6) COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATION.—After the review period 

provided in subsection (b), the President shall, not less than 

every 90 calendar days— 

‘‘(A) determine whether the President is able to certify 

that— 

Determination. 

President. 

President. 

Assessment. 

Assessment. 


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PUBLIC LAW 114–17—MAY 22, 2015 129 STAT. 207 

‘‘(i) Iran is transparently, verifiably, and fully 

implementing the agreement, including all related 

technical or additional agreements; 

‘‘(ii) Iran has not committed a material breach 

with respect to the agreement or, if Iran has committed 

a material breach, Iran has cured the material breach; 

‘‘(iii) Iran has not taken any action, including 

covert activities, that could significantly advance its 

nuclear weapons program; and 

‘‘(iv) suspension of sanctions related to Iran pursuant to the agreement is— 

‘‘(I) appropriate and proportionate to the specific and verifiable measures taken by Iran with 

respect to terminating its illicit nuclear program; 

and 

‘‘(II) vital to the national security interests 

of the United States; and 

‘‘(B) if the President determines he is able to make 

the certification described in subparagraph (A), make such 

certification to the appropriate congressional committees 

and leadership. 

‘‘(7) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Congress that— 

‘‘(A) United States sanctions on Iran for terrorism, 

human rights abuses, and ballistic missiles will remain 

in place under an agreement, as defined in subsection 

(h)(1); 

‘‘(B) issues not addressed by an agreement on the 

nuclear program of Iran, including fair and appropriate 

compensation for Americans who were terrorized and subjected to torture while held in captivity for 444 days after 

the seizure of the United States Embassy in Tehran, Iran, 

in 1979 and their families, the freedom of Americans held 

in Iran, the human rights abuses of the Government of 

Iran against its own people, and the continued support 

of terrorism worldwide by the Government of Iran, are 

matters critical to ensure justice and the national security 

of the United States, and should be expeditiously 

addressed; 

‘‘(C) the President should determine the agreement 

in no way compromises the commitment of the United 

States to Israel’s security, nor its support for Israel’s right 

to exist; and 

‘‘(D) in order to responsibly implement any long-term 

agreement reached between the P5+1 countries and Iran, 

it is critically important that Congress have the opportunity 

to review any agreement and, as necessary, take action 

to modify the statutory sanctions regime imposed by Congress. 

‘‘(e) EXPEDITED CONSIDERATION OF LEGISLATION.— 

‘‘(1) INITIATION.— 

‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—In the event the President does 

not submit a certification pursuant to subsection (d)(6) 

during each 90-day period following the review period provided in subsection (b), or submits a determination pursuant to subsection (d)(3) that Iran has materially breached 

an agreement subject to subsection (a) and the material 

breach has not been cured, qualifying legislation introduced 

Time period. 


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129 STAT. 208 PUBLIC LAW 114–17—MAY 22, 2015 

within 60 calendar days of such event shall be entitled 

to expedited consideration pursuant to this subsection. 

‘‘(B) DEFINITION.—In the House of Representatives, for 

purposes of this paragraph, the terms ‘submit’ and ‘submits’ 

mean submit and submits, respectively, to the Speaker 

of the House of Representatives. 

‘‘(2) QUALIFYING LEGISLATION DEFINED.—For purposes of 

this subsection, the term ‘qualifying legislation’ means only 

a bill of either House of Congress— 

‘‘(A) the title of which is as follows: ‘A bill reinstating 

statutory sanctions imposed with respect to Iran.’; and 

‘‘(B) the matter after the enacting clause of which 

is: ‘Any statutory sanctions imposed with respect to Iran 

pursuant to llllll that were waived, suspended, 

reduced, or otherwise relieved pursuant to an agreement 

submitted pursuant to section 135(a) of the Atomic Energy 

Act of 1954 are hereby reinstated and any action by the 

United States Government to facilitate the release of funds 

or assets to Iran pursuant to such agreement, or provide 

any further waiver, suspension, reduction, or other relief 

pursuant to such agreement is hereby prohibited.’, with 

the blank space being filled in with the law or laws under 

which sanctions are to be reinstated. 

‘‘(3) INTRODUCTION.—During the 60-calendar day period 

provided for in paragraph (1), qualifying legislation may be 

introduced— 

‘‘(A) in the House of Representatives, by the majority 

leader or the minority leader; and 

‘‘(B) in the Senate, by the majority leader (or the 

majority leader’s designee) or the minority leader (or the 

minority leader’s designee). 

‘‘(4) FLOOR CONSIDERATION IN HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.— 

‘‘(A) REPORTING AND DISCHARGE.—If a committee of 

the House to which qualifying legislation has been referred 

has not reported such qualifying legislation within 10 legislative days after the date of referral, that committee shall 

be discharged from further consideration thereof. 

‘‘(B) PROCEEDING TO CONSIDERATION.—Beginning on 

the third legislative day after each committee to which 

qualifying legislation has been referred reports it to the 

House or has been discharged from further consideration 

thereof, it shall be in order to move to proceed to consider 

the qualifying legislation in the House. All points of order 

against the motion are waived. Such a motion shall not 

be in order after the House has disposed of a motion 

to proceed on the qualifying legislation with regard to 

the same agreement. The previous question shall be considered as ordered on the motion to its adoption without 

intervening motion. The motion shall not be debatable. 

A motion to reconsider the vote by which the motion is 

disposed of shall not be in order. 

‘‘(C) CONSIDERATION.—The qualifying legislation shall 

be considered as read. All points of order against the qualifying legislation and against its consideration are waived. 

The previous question shall be considered as ordered on 

Effective date. 

Deadline. 


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PUBLIC LAW 114–17—MAY 22, 2015 129 STAT. 209 

the qualifying legislation to final passage without intervening motion except two hours of debate equally divided 

and controlled by the sponsor of the qualifying legislation 

(or a designee) and an opponent. A motion to reconsider 

the vote on passage of the qualifying legislation shall not 

be in order. 

‘‘(5) CONSIDERATION IN THE SENATE.— 

‘‘(A) COMMITTEE REFERRAL.—Qualifying legislation 

introduced in the Senate shall be referred to the Committee 

on Foreign Relations. 

‘‘(B) REPORTING AND DISCHARGE.—If the Committee on 

Foreign Relations has not reported such qualifying legislation within 10 session days after the date of referral of 

such legislation, that committee shall be discharged from 

further consideration of such legislation and the qualifying 

legislation shall be placed on the appropriate calendar. 

‘‘(C) PROCEEDING TO CONSIDERATION.—Notwithstanding Rule XXII of the Standing Rules of the Senate, 

it is in order at any time after the committee authorized 

to consider qualifying legislation reports it to the Senate 

or has been discharged from its consideration (even though 

a previous motion to the same effect has been disagreed 

to) to move to proceed to the consideration of qualifying 

legislation, and all points of order against qualifying legislation (and against consideration of the qualifying legislation) are waived. The motion to proceed is not debatable. 

The motion is not subject to a motion to postpone. A motion 

to reconsider the vote by which the motion is agreed to 

or disagreed to shall not be in order. If a motion to proceed 

to the consideration of the qualifying legislation is agreed 

to, the qualifying legislation shall remain the unfinished 

business until disposed of. 

‘‘(D) DEBATE.—Debate on qualifying legislation, and 

on all debatable motions and appeals in connection therewith, shall be limited to not more than 10 hours, which 

shall be divided equally between the majority and minority 

leaders or their designees. A motion to further limit debate 

is in order and not debatable. An amendment to, or a 

motion to postpone, or a motion to proceed to the consideration of other business, or a motion to recommit the qualifying legislation is not in order. 

‘‘(E) VOTE ON PASSAGE.—The vote on passage shall 

occur immediately following the conclusion of the debate 

on the qualifying legislation and a single quorum call at 

the conclusion of the debate, if requested in accordance 

with the rules of the Senate. 

‘‘(F) RULINGS OF THE CHAIR ON PROCEDURE.—Appeals 

from the decisions of the Chair relating to the application 

of the rules of the Senate, as the case may be, to the 

procedure relating to qualifying legislation shall be decided 

without debate. 

‘‘(G) CONSIDERATION OF VETO MESSAGES.—Debate in 

the Senate of any veto message with respect to qualifying 

legislation, including all debatable motions and appeals 

Deadline. 


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129 STAT. 210 PUBLIC LAW 114–17—MAY 22, 2015 

in connection with such qualifying legislation, shall be limited to 10 hours, to be equally divided between, and controlled by, the majority leader and the minority leader 

or their designees. 

‘‘(6) RULES RELATING TO SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENT- ATIVES.— 

‘‘(A) COORDINATION WITH ACTION BY OTHER HOUSE.— If, before the passage by one House of qualifying legislation 

of that House, that House receives qualifying legislation 

from the other House, then the following procedures shall 

apply: 

‘‘(i) The qualifying legislation of the other House 

shall not be referred to a committee. 

‘‘(ii) With respect to qualifying legislation of the 

House receiving the legislation— 

‘‘(I) the procedure in that House shall be the 

same as if no qualifying legislation had been 

received from the other House; but 

‘‘(II) the vote on passage shall be on the qualifying legislation of the other House. 

‘‘(B) TREATMENT OF A BILL OF OTHER HOUSE.—If one 

House fails to introduce qualifying legislation under this 

section, the qualifying legislation of the other House shall 

be entitled to expedited floor procedures under this section. 

‘‘(C) TREATMENT OF COMPANION MEASURES.—If, following passage of the qualifying legislation in the Senate, 

the Senate then receives a companion measure from the 

House of Representatives, the companion measure shall 

not be debatable. 

‘‘(D) APPLICATION TO REVENUE MEASURES.—The provisions of this paragraph shall not apply in the House of 

Representatives to qualifying legislation which is a revenue 

measure. 

‘‘(f) RULES OF HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND SENATE.—Subsection (e) is enacted by Congress— 

‘‘(1) as an exercise of the rulemaking power of the Senate 

and the House of Representatives, respectively, and as such 

are deemed a part of the rules of each House, respectively, 

but applicable only with respect to the procedure to be followed 

in that House in the case of legislation described in those 

sections, and supersede other rules only to the extent that 

they are inconsistent with such rules; and 

‘‘(2) with full recognition of the constitutional right of either 

House to change the rules (so far as relating to the procedure 

of that House) at any time, in the same manner, and to the 

same extent as in the case of any other rule of that House. 

‘‘(g) RULES OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in the section shall 

be construed as— 

‘‘(1) modifying, or having any other impact on, the President’s authority to negotiate, enter into, or implement appropriate executive agreements, other than the restrictions on 

implementation of the agreements specifically covered by this 

section; 

‘‘(2) allowing any new waiver, suspension, reduction, or 

other relief from statutory sanctions with respect to Iran under 

any provision of law, or allowing the President to refrain from 

applying any such sanctions pursuant to an agreement 

Applicability. 


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PUBLIC LAW 114–17—MAY 22, 2015 129 STAT. 211 

described in subsection (a) during the period for review provided 

in subsection (b); 

‘‘(3) revoking or terminating any statutory sanctions 

imposed on Iran; or 

‘‘(4) authorizing the use of military force against Iran. 

‘‘(h) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

‘‘(1) AGREEMENT.—The term ‘agreement’ means an agreement related to the nuclear program of Iran that includes 

the United States, commits the United States to take action, 

or pursuant to which the United States commits or otherwise 

agrees to take action, regardless of the form it takes, whether 

a political commitment or otherwise, and regardless of whether 

it is legally binding or not, including any joint comprehensive 

plan of action entered into or made between Iran and any 

other parties, and any additional materials related thereto, 

including annexes, appendices, codicils, side agreements, implementing materials, documents, and guidance, technical or other 

understandings, and any related agreements, whether entered 

into or implemented prior to the agreement or to be entered 

into or implemented in the future. 

‘‘(2) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES.—The term 

‘appropriate congressional committees’ means the Committee 

on Finance, the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban 

Affairs, the Select Committee on Intelligence, and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee 

on Ways and Means, the Committee on Financial Services, 

the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives. 

‘‘(3) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES AND

LEADERSHIP.—The term ‘appropriate congressional committees 

and leadership’ means the Committee on Finance, the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, the Select 

Committee on Intelligence, and the Committee on Foreign Relations, and the Majority and Minority Leaders of the Senate 

and the Committee on Ways and Means, the Committee on 

Financial Services, the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and the Speaker, 

Majority Leader, and Minority Leader of the House of Representatives. 

‘‘(4) IRANIAN FINANCIAL INSTITUTION.—The term ‘Iranian 

financial institution’ has the meaning given the term in section 

104A(d) of the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, 

and Divestment Act of 2010 (22 U.S.C. 8513b(d)). 

‘‘(5) JOINT PLAN OF ACTION.—The term ‘Joint Plan of Action’ 

means the Joint Plan of Action, signed at Geneva November 

24, 2013, by Iran and by France, Germany, the Russian Federation, the People’s Republic of China, the United Kingdom, and 

the United States, and all implementing materials and agreements related to the Joint Plan of Action, including the technical understandings reached on January 12, 2014, the extension thereto agreed to on July 18, 2014, the extension agreed 

to on November 24, 2014, and any materially identical extension 

that is agreed to on or after the date of the enactment of 

the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015. 


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129 STAT. 212 PUBLIC LAW 114–17—MAY 22, 2015 

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 1191: 

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 161 (2015): 

Mar. 16, 17, considered and passed House. 

Apr. 23, 27–30, May 5–7, considered and passed Senate, amended. 

May 14, House concurred in Senate amendments. 

Æ 

‘‘(6) EU-IRAN JOINT STATEMENT.—The term ‘EU-Iran Joint 

Statement’ means only the Joint Statement by EU High Representative Federica Mogherini and Iranian Foreign Minister 

Javad Zarif made on April 2, 2015, at Lausanne, Switzerland. 

‘‘(7) MATERIAL BREACH.—The term ‘material breach’ means, 

with respect to an agreement described in subsection (a), any 

breach of the agreement, or in the case of non-binding commitments, any failure to perform those commitments, that substantially— 

‘‘(A) benefits Iran’s nuclear program; 

‘‘(B) decreases the amount of time required by Iran 

to achieve a nuclear weapon; or 

‘‘(C) deviates from or undermines the purposes of such 

agreement. 

‘‘(8) NONCOMPLIANCE DEFINED.—The term ‘noncompliance’ 

means any departure from the terms of an agreement described 

in subsection (a) that is not a material breach. 

‘‘(9) P5+1 COUNTRIES.—The term ‘P5+1 countries’ means 

the United States, France, the Russian Federation, the People’s 

Republic of China, the United Kingdom, and Germany. 

‘‘(10) UNITED STATES PERSON.—The term ‘United States 

person’ has the meaning given that term in section 101 of 

the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010 (22 U.S.C. 8511).’’. 

Approved May 22, 2015. 


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