The Iran nuclear deal may decrease the Congress' ability to introduce new sanctions.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik), Leandra Bernstein�� The Iranian nuclear agreement, or Joint Plan of�Action (JPOA), may limit the ability of�the US Congress to�impose new, non-nuclear sanctions, Senator Jeff Flake told Sputnik on�Thursday.

�What we�re concerned about�is, even if they [Iranians] comply with�the nuclear side, if there is terrorism that we want to�curtail, deter, or punish, then if we impose those [sanctions]� would that be in�violation of�the accord?� Flake asked.

He added that members of�Congress are �still trying to�work through�those questions.�

Under the JPOA terms, Congress is not allowed to�re-impose the nuclear sanctions or impose new regulations that have the same effect as�those sanctions. Lifting the international, nuclear-related sanctions on�Iran was a key element of�the nuclear deal concluded on�July 14, 2015.

In testimony on�Thursday to�the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Secretary of�the Treasury John Lew stated that Congress would not be able to �relabel� congressional nuclear-related sanctions by�imposing new sanctions related to�Iranian support for�terrorist groups, human rights violations or other activities.

�We are trying to�parse what that means,� Flake said.

Flake added that despite�assurances from�the Obama administration that Congress would be able to�impose new sanctions on�Iranian non-nuclear activity, �when you read the plain text, it seems to�indicate it would� violate the agreement.

Congress has until�September 2015 to�review the Iranian nuclear agreement and vote on�a resolution of�approval or disapproval.

President Barack Obama has threatened to�veto a congressional resolution that blocks US participation in�the internationally-negotiated agreement to�prevent Iran from�getting a nuclear weapon.

By Sputnik�