The U.S. president has criticized the letter by 47 Republican senators about the nuclear negotiations with Iran, saying the “unusual coalition” between members of Congress and Iranian hardliners is ironic.
The senators issued an open letter to the Iranian regime, saying any deal signed with the Obama administration would only be good until Barack Obama leaves the White House.
On Monday March 9, Obama accused the senators of aligning themselves with Iranian hardliners, saying: “I think it’s somewhat ironic to see some members of Congress wanting to make common cause with the hardliners in Iran. It’s an unusual coalition.”
Obama told reporters that if a deal is signed with Iran, then his government “will be able to make the case to the American people.”
U.S. administration officials said the president does not need approval from Congress to sign an agreement with Iran and the letter from the Senators saying they can revoke the deal once there is a change in the oval office is “inaccurate”.
Similar statements were attributed to Iran’s foreign minister, who described the letter as “mostly a propaganda ploy”.