Iran Nuclear Agreement (JCPOA)

July 14, 2015

The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) was a multilateral agreement between Iran and six world powers that restricted Iran's nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief. Rather than submitting the deal as a treaty requiring two-thirds Senate approval under Article II, the Obama administration structured it as an executive agreement. Critics argued that an agreement of this magnitude and duration—affecting national security, international commitments, and sanctions regimes—constitutionally required Senate advice and consent under the Treaty Clause. Congress passed the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act (Corker-Cardin), creating a review mechanism but ultimately failing to block the deal. The episode highlighted longstanding tensions between the growing use of executive agreements and the Treaty Clause's original design.