Republican Senator ‘Astounded’ Senate Is ‘OK With Signing Off’ Iran Deal Without Completing Key Task

Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.) said during a speech on the Senate floor Tuesday that he is "astounded" the legislative chamber would sign off on the Iranian nuclear deal without first reading the agreement.

The remarks came before Senate Republicans planned to hold a second vote on the controversial agreement which has become President Barack Obama's top foreign policy priority.

"First, why don't we actually have the opportunity to read the agreement?" Lankford asked. "I would like to be able to see it. No one in this chamber has seen all aspects of this agreement. No one in the House has seen all aspects of the agreement. It's not that we won't read it. We can't read it because the Administration even they have said they have not read the entire agreement."

"Now, I would tell you, we don't allow secret side deals between a bank and a car dealer when you're buying a used car," the Oklahoma senator continued. "We certainly don't allow secret side deals between the U.N. and Iran that no one can see."

He added, "And I'm astounded that this body is okay with signing off an agreement that absolutely no one has read the entire agreement."

[sharequote align="center"]"And I'm astounded that this body is okay with signing off an agreement...no one has read..."[/sharequote]

Lankford appeared to be referencing reports that the nuclear agreement includes private deals Iran made with the International Atomic Energy Agency regarding key inspections. The deals, which Iran has demanded remain secret from the U.S., are not subject to review by the U.S. Congress.

Lankford additionally contended that the Obama administration hasn't seen the final inked deal.

"In fact, the administration has said they haven't even seen it," he said on the Senate floor. "The White House wants to have it both ways. They don't want to turn over the documents which the statute requires, but they also want to keep the part of the law that says Congress only has 60 days to review it. They want to say by the end of this week it's done, but no, we're not ever going to turn the documents over the statute requires."

In his speech, Lankford suggested things he'd like to see in the deal.

"How about this for an idea for a better agreement? We have on-site inspections that will actually allow Americans on the inspection team? How about this for a better agreement? We don't lift a ban on missile testing and research on Iran which allows Iran to start missile testing and R&D again on ballistic missiles," he said.

Democrats are poised to block the GOP's second attempt to disapprove of the deal later this evening.

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