Visa rules for Iran stir dispute

WASHINGTON - Top GOP lawmakers accused the Obama administration Wednesday of ignoring congressional intent and the spirit of the law in offering reassurances to Iran about new visa rules.

"There is no ambiguity," said House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy of California. "The administration should follow the law as written and agreed to."

At issue is a new law tightening visa-free travel to the U.S., enacted as part of a sprawling spending bill passed by Congress last week and signed by President Obama.

The legislation, a response to the Paris terror attacks, deals with the "visa waiver" program that allows the citizens of 38 countries to travel to the U.S. without a visa. It makes a series of changes, including requiring a visa for anyone who has visited Iraq, Syria, Iran, or Sudan in the previous five years, as well as dual nationals.

Secretary of State John Kerry offered assurances in a letter to his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif that the new rules would not affect legitimate Iranian business interests and suggested they could be waived. That has led to criticism from top House Republicans who say they contemplated no such waiver.