Dems downplay Iran deal delays

Senate Democrats are downplaying repeated delays of the deadline to reach a final deal on Iran’s nuclear program, suggesting the administration should take extra time to secure a good deal. 
 
“The slipping of the time doesn’t trouble me,” Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) said Wednesday.
 
{mosads}Kaine, who was an early supporter of a bill that allows Congress to weigh in on a final deal, added that “I would rather work to find a good deal living under [the joint plan of action] than try to rush it.” 
 
Kaine’s comments come in the wake of the State Department’s announcement that the July 7 deadline to reach a final agreement on Iran’s nuclear program had been pushed to July 10. 
 
It’s not the first time negotiators from seven countries, including the United States and Iran, have moved back the deadline for a final deal. They were initially supposed to secure an agreement by June 30, before moving it to July 7, and then July 10.
 
Sen. Tom Udall (D-N.M.) also brushed aside questions about whether lawmakers should be concerned, saying that “I think they’re trying to work through some really contentious issues and I think we should just give them the time to do that.” 
 
Their comments come after Senate Democrats huddled with President Obama on Tuesday night, where they discussed a range of issues including the Iran negotiations. 
 
Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) suggested the president tried to assuage any Democratic worries that the administration might accept what would be considered a “bad deal.” 
 
“Listen, the president had us all over to the White House last night. He went out of his way last night to make it clear that he is prepared to walk away from the table and bear the consequences if the Iranians don’t bend on these last few remaining issues,” he said, adding that “there’s absolutely no reason to rush. We can get a deal but we should take the time to get there.”  
 
The administration will need to win over Senate Democrats to get congressional approval of a final deal, or potentially to uphold a presidential veto.  
 
The senators’ remarks make a stark contrast to those of their Republican colleagues, who have put increasing pressure on the administration in the last few days to walk away from the negotiating table, suggesting the Iran talks have failed.
 
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), a 2016 presidential contender, on Tuesday called the ongoing talks a “diplomatic charade.” 
 
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), who is also running for president, said Wednesday that “I would have walked away a long time ago because of the behavior they’re exhibiting.” 
 
But Democrats who are pushing to give the administration room to tie up the nuclear talks and try to reach a deal may have an Republican ally in Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), the chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee. 
 
Corker told The Hill last month that he would rather negotiators “take their time.” 
 
“I hope they’re not having an artificial line in the sand and making a bad deal in the process,” he said. 
 
The Tennessee Republican has become increasingly vocal about his concerns over the talks since then, but on Wednesday said lawmakers were waiting to see the deal before deciding what steps to take.
 
Under legislation passed earlier this year, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) can bring up a resolution of approval or a resolution of disapproval. 
 
“So look, I’ve, you know, in each of these cases tried not to get the cart before the horse,” Corker said. “I can assure you there’s no concrete vision of where we’re going to go.” 
Tags Bob Corker Chris Murphy Tim Kaine Tom Udall

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