Kerry responds to Iran on new visa law

Secretary of State John Kerry answered criticism by those who fear that a new law pertaining to travel visas could undermine the recent Iran nuclear agreement.

In a letter Saturday to Iran's foreign minister, Kerry indicated the law was not an attempt at circumventing the deal — and that the administration might be able "to waive" certain provisions, though Kerry did not specify which ones.

"Recent changes in visa requirements passed in Congress, which the administration has the authority to waive, will not in any way prevent us from meeting our JPCOA requirements," Kerry wrote Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in reference to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action nuclear deal.

Although Kerry's letter was vague on the issue of waivers, he likely was referring to waivers that can be given to individuals — such as a U.N. nuclear inspector.

Kerry also wrote: "We will adhere to the full measure of our commitments, per the agreement."

The new visa law, part of the massive spending bill just enacted, changed rules about travel to the United States. Citizens of the 38 countries that did not need visas to travel to the United States will now need to obtain visas if they are also citizens of Iran, Iraq, Sudan or Syria — or, according to some interpretations, if they have visited these countries since 2011. Those provisions include many people who are considered dual citizens even if they have never been to the four targeted nations.

Of particular concern to Iran is that an international businessman traveling to Iran to take advantage of new post-sanctions opportunities would then have a harder time gaining admission to the United States, a deterrent to doing business in Iran. Iranians claim that provision violates an essential aspect of the nuclear treaty, normalized trade relations.

"The visa waiver thing is absurd," Zarif told The New Yorker in an interview published Friday.

"Has anybody in the West been targeted by any Iranian national, anybody of Iranian origin, or anyone traveling to Iran?" Zarif asked. "Whereas many people have been targeted by the nationals of your allies, people visiting your allies, and people transiting the territory of, again, your allies. So you’re looking at the wrong address."

Zarif mentioned the 9/11 attacks, as well as the recent San Bernardino and Paris attacks. His remarks were veiled references to Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, whose citizens have been implicated in those and others lethal strikes. Neither nation is singled out in the new visa law.

Despite Kerry's letter, the National Iranian American Council remained wary of the visa law. "It remains unclear how these steps will ensure that dual citizens are not discriminated against solely on the basis of their nationality," the group said Sunday.

The international nuclear deal is designed to prevent Iran from building nuclear weapons. In return, the agreement offers financial incentives to Iran, including the end of sanctions. The agreement remains the subject of much criticism and skepticism.

Nahal Toosi contributed to this article.

Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2015/12/iran-visa-waivers-kerry-nuclear-deal-217014#ixzz3utmFEfLR