Republican senators plans tough terms for new Iran deal

Republican senators have drafted new legislation outlining tougher new terms for a revised nuclear deal with Iran.

The draft legislation, which was seen by Reuters on Tuesday, follows US President Donald Trump's recent refusal to recertify the nuclear deal under its current terms.

According to the London-based news agency, the proposed terms includes restoring sanctions if Tehran carries out further ballistic missile tests or refuses nuclear inspections.

Opponents of Republican Senators Bob Corker and Tom Cotton's draft say that its enactment would put Washington in violation of the current deal that was struck in 2015.

Despite US allegations that Iran has violated the accord, the International Atomic Energy Agency and several European states have maintained that Iran has acted within the current deal's terms.

Senate Democrats, however, have insisted to Corker that the Trump administration consult its European allies before any changes are made.

The deal's European signatories, as well as Russia and China have warned that scrapping the nuclear accord would alienate Washington.

Despite their mutual opposition to the Iran deal, Corker and Trump have clashed over the president's conduct of foreign policy and other matters.

The powerful Republican senator, who chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has in recent days questioned whether Trump is fit to govern the US.

Corker has reportedly said that the president is "kneecapping" administration officials who are trying to avert war and is damaging key US relationships around the world.

The future of the Iran nuclear accord currently hangs in the balance following president Trump's refusal to recertify it earlier this month.

Trump stopped short of scrapping the deal altogether, however has mooted the possibility of a revised deal or a "total termination".

Iran, meanwhile, has rejected the possibility of further nuclear inspections and has threatened to "shred" the accord if the US withdraws.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said earier this month that Iran would stick by its commitments under the 2015 nuclear deal, which Trump has threatened to "terminate" unless the US Congress tightens sanctions on the country.