White House spokesman Josh Earnest[/caption]White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said that the US Republican Senators open letter to high-ranking Iranian officials interfered in US President Barack Obamas effort to come to a nuclear deal with Tehran.
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) The US Republican Senators open letter tohigh-ranking Iranian officials interferes inUS President Barack Obamas effort tocome toa nuclear deal withTehran, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said ata press briefing onMonday.I would describe this letter asthe continuation ofa partisan strategy toundermine the Presidents [Obama] ability toconduct foreign policy and advance our national security interests aroundthe globe, Earnest told journalists when asked if the letter could threaten Iran nuclear talks atthis delicate stage.
Earlier onMonday, 47 Republican Senators sent an open letter addressed toleading Iranian officials, saying that a possible nuclear agreement betweenIran and the international community could collapse uponPresident Obamas departure fromoffice in2017 and if the US Congress does not ratify the agreement.
It [the letter] certainly interferes inthat effort [reaching nuclear deal withIran], Earnest underscored.
US Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said last week that the Senate will debate the Iran Nuclear Agreement Act that would require Congressional approval ofany US agreement reached withIran.
The P5+1 negotiators, representing five permanent UN Security Council members China, Russia, the United States, the United Kingdom, France plus Germany, have set the preliminary nuclear deal forthe end ofthe March. A deadline forconcluding a long-term comprehensive nuclear deal has been set forJuly, 2015.
By Sputnik News
