GOP senator: ‘Iran is an outlaw regime’

Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) said on Sunday that Iran frequently violates international law, and he expects the same rule breaking should the U.S. reach a final nuclear agreement with Tehran.

“Unfortunately, Iran is an outlaw regime,” he told host John Dickerson on CBS’s “Face the Nation.”

“They’re anti-American,” he said. “They’re terrorist-sponsoring.”

“Just two days ago, two days ago, the supposedly moderate president of Iran, the kind of people that the [Obama] administration hopes to empower, was in the streets chanting, ‘death to America’ while people were burning American flags and Israeli flags,” Cotton added.

Reports emerged Sunday that a provisional deal over Iran’s atomic energy capabilities is within reach for negotiators in Vienna.

Cotton argued on Sunday that President Obama had already given Iranian leadership too much power and prestige.

“Iran is destabilizing the Middle East in Iraq, in Syria, in Lebanon, in Yemen,” he said. “They continue to be the world’s worst sponsor of state terrorism.”

“And by engaging in these negotiations, by granting these concessions to Iran, by not demanding, for instance, that Iran release immediately the four hostages that it holds who are American citizens, this administration has elevated Iran’s role in the region,” Cotton added.

“The president has even said that he would be happy to see Iran play a role of a very successful regional power.”

The Obama administration is hoping Iran will slow or stop seeking an atomic arsenal in exchange for economic sanctions relief.

Negotiators have missed four deadlines since an original cutoff point on June 30. A final agreement is now due Monday.

Congress now has 60 days for reviewing any final agreement following the repeated delays.

Cotton sent Iranian leadership an open letter in March promised Congress would void any pact it finds unsatisfactory.