Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Sunday defended a controversial letter his caucus sent to Iranian leaders last week, saying it would be foolish for Republicans to stand down while the Obama administration considers a nuclear deal with “one of the worst regimes in the world.”
Forty-seven Senate Republicans signed the letter written by Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas, aimed at derailing a potential nuclear deal with Tehran. The letter warned Iranian leaders that any permanent deal must have congressional approval, rather than just Mr. Obama’s support.
“I didn’t think it was a mistake,” the Kentucky Republican told CNN’s “State of the Union.”
The GOP has faced a wave of criticism, including friendly fire from Republican-allied corners, for going around the administration with the letter, which was written by a first-term senator and seemed to be signed in haste.
President Obama said he is “embarrassed” for the lawmakers who signed onto it, and he took another verbal shot at Mr. Cotton over the weekend.
At the annual Gridiron dinner in Washington, where politicians traditionally tell jokes, Mr. Obama noted that he was criticized recently for appearing in a video to reach younger voters.
“You don’t diminish your office by taking a ’selfie,’” Mr. Obama said. “You do it by sending a poorly written letter to Iran. Really, that wasn’t a joke.”
Democrats also expressed umbrage over the Senate Republicans’ letter.
“The letter signed by the 47 senators weakened the president’s negotiating ability. That was wrong,” Sen. Ben Cardin, Maryland Democrat, told Fox News on Sunday.
Mr. McConnell, though, said he read the letter and found it appropriate to inform Iran that Congress would be involved at some point.
“This is a big, important issue,” he said.
Sen. John Barrasso, Wyoming Republican, said Mr. Obama is so desperate to get a nuclear deal that he will enter a bad one, even deferring to the United Nations over Congress.
“You have to ask, why is that?” he told Fox.
Dave Boyer contributed to this report.
• Tom Howell Jr. can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.
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