Top House Democrats demand "immediate" Rubio briefing on U.S.-Iran deal

The top Democrats on congressional committees overseeing foreign, defense and intelligence policy are demanding Secretary of State Marco Rubio provide a briefing on the U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding.

Why it matters: Unlike some of Congress' hawkish Republicans, these lawmakers aren't dismissing the deal out of hand.

• "While we welcome the Administration's turn toward diplomacy and its decision to end this war of choice, the Administration must provide Congress with greater details," they wrote in a three-page letter to Rubio.
• State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott told Axios: "The Trump administration has routinely briefed Congress and provided transparent updates directly to the American people."
• "President Trump's actions to prevent the Iranian regime from obtaining a nuclear weapon have made us all safer," he added.

Driving the news: Reps. Greg Meeks (D-N.Y.), Jim Himes (D-Conn.) and Adam Smith (D-Wash.) — the ranking members of the Foreign Affairs, Intelligence and Armed Services Committees — wrote that they want an "immediate" briefing when they return to Washington, D.C.

• The administration must also provide "full text of the MoU, any associated side agreements or implementing arrangements, and detailed information regarding its strategy for negotiating and implementing any future agreement with Iran," they continued.
• "For more than 15 weeks, the Administration left Congress and the American people in the dark about a war of choice that has proved to be a strategic failure and inflicted real costs on Americans," the letter says.

Between the lines: The three lawmakers asked that Rubio's briefing address several questions, including the administration's plan for Iran's nuclear program, enforcement mechanisms for the deal and any side-agreements regarding the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.

• They also want to know about whether limitations will be placed on Iran's support for proxy militias across the Middle East or its ballistic missile program.
• And they're questioning Rubio on the MoU's $300 billion "reconstruction" fund for Iran, writing, "What commitments did the Administration make on frozen Iranian assets and sanctions relief, including on waivers related to the sale or purchase of Iranian oil?"

Editor's note: This article has been updated with a statement from the State Department.

(Author: Fintech)