Senate

Senate GOP suggests Iran talks have failed

by Jordain Carney - 07/07/15 7:22 PM ET

Senate Republicans are turning up the pressure on President Obama to walk away from Iran nuclear talks after negotiators extended the deadline for a second time.

The State Department said the talks will be extended until Friday, after the original deadline of June 30 was pushed until July 7.

{mosads}Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) called the decision to extend the talks for a second time “just another sign that it is time for President Obama to walk away from the table,” calling the ongoing talks a “diplomatic charade.”

Rubio, a 2016 presidential contender, added that Obama “should level” with Americans “and admit that Iran’s government is not negotiating in good faith.”

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), who is also running for president, said separately in a statement that “it is time for the Obama administration walk away [suspending talks] and make clear that we will never list sanctions until Iran is fully ready to abandon its nuclear program.”

Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), the Senate’s majority whip, said that while senators are “anxiously awaiting news” from the talks, the potential deal “doesn’t look particularly promising.”

“It seems to get actually worse by the day,” he added. “If this deal does not protect our national security and the security of the region and our allies, Congress may have no other choice but to vote it down by passing a resolution of disapproval.”

Iran has come under recent fire for reports that its negotiators want the United Nations embargo on exporting or importing arms lifted.

Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) slammed Iran on Tuesday, accusing Tehran of trying to add additional requirements to a potential long-term deal on its nuclear program at the final hour.

“The United States should leave the table, we should break off the negations, and we should say to Iran, ‘If you want to introduce new terms you will release American hostages within 24 hours … or the negotiations are over, we will reimpose sanctions,’ ” he said. “The United States Congress will impose new sanctions.”

Cotton was the only senator to vote against legislation that will allow lawmakers to review and vote on a final deal.

The remarks come after negotiators pushed to extend the talks with Iran until July 10. The move could give Congress more time to review and vote on a deal.

Under legislation passed earlier this year, if the administration gives lawmakers the agreement by July 9, they have 30 days to look over the agreement and vote on it. If it’s after July 9, they have 60 days, including the month-long August recess.

White House press secretary Josh Earnest downplayed any concerns about letting Congress have additional review time, saying that “we welcome additional scrutiny of the deal, if one is reached.”

But Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) suggested the administration is hoping for a 30-day review period.

“I think they’d like to see it only be 30, obviously, because it’s less time than that the Senate can have their debate,” he told reporters. “I’ve been told that it matters to them, that they would very much like to see 30.”

Asked whether there was a difference between a 30-day review and a 60-day review, he added that “the longer there is to examine it, the more likely it is in my view for people to reject it.”

McCain predicted the administration will be able to get a final agreement, saying that “I think they are so desperate for a deal that they will make a deal.”

Tags John Cornyn John McCain Lindsey Graham Marco Rubio