“I would describe this letter as the continuation of a partisan strategy to undermine the President’s [Obama] ability to conduct foreign policy and advance our national security interests around the globe,” Earnest told journalists when asked if the letter could threaten Iran nuclear talks at this delicate stage.
Earlier on Monday, 47 Republican Senators sent an open letter addressed to leading Iranian officials, saying that a possible nuclear agreement between Iran and the international community could collapse upon President Obama’s departure from office in 2017 and if the US Congress does not ratify the agreement.
“It [the letter] certainly interferes in that effort [reaching nuclear deal with Iran],” 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 of any US agreement reached with Iran.
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 for the end of the March. A deadline for concluding a long-term comprehensive nuclear deal has been set for July, 2015.
