Is the legislative branch finding its spine?

Another chamber, another letter:

Represenative Eliot Engel of New York, the ranking Democrat on the committee, said he and Republican Chairman Ed Royce of California were sending a letter to President Barack Obama expressing their concerns about what needs to be in an Iran nuclear deal. 

A draft of the letter emphasizes that permanent sanctions relief, which Iran has repeatedly requested during the Geneva negotiations, would require new legislation.

"In reviewing such an agreement, Congress must be convinced that its terms foreclose any pathway to a bomb," the lawmakers wrote, adding that "Iran's role in fomenting instability in the region ... demonstrates the risks of negotiating with a partner we cannot trust."
A spokesman for Engel told VOA that 363 House members, Republicans and Democrats, signed the letter.
"It’s truly a very bipartisan letter expressing Congress’ strong feelings about things that need to be in the agreement," Engel said during the committee hearing. "Congress really needs to play a very active and vital role in this whole process, and any attempts to sidestep Congress will be resisted on both sides of the aisle [ by both Democrats and Republicans]."
The West has accused Iran of seeking nuclear weapons, but Iran insists its nuclear activity is solely for peaceful, civilian purposes, such as medical research and generating power.

The House letter came after a more controversial letter that was sent to Iranian leaders last week. That letter, signed by 47 Senate Republicans, cautioned Tehran that any deal might not last after Obama leaves office. 

Indeed.  The Most Equal Comrade and Secretary Global-Test can't just lift sanctions by sitting at the table with the Iranians.  That has to be done at the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue.