News / Politics

White House slams ‘reckless’ and ‘misguided’ GOP stunt

Wednesday, 11 March 2015 3:40 AM [ Last Update: Wednesday, 11 March 2015 3:52 PM ]

The White House on Tuesday termed an open letter sent to Iran by 47 senators a “reckless” and “misguided” Republican stunt.

The White House has once again slammed an open letter by US Republican senators aimed at undercutting US President Barack Obama's efforts to reach an accord with Iran over its nuclear energy program.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the White House lashed out at the senators who signed the controversial letter and called it a “reckless” and “misguided” stunt by Republicans.

In an unprecedented move on Monday, a group of 47 Republican senators ignored protocol and sent an open letter to Iran, warning that whatever agreement reached with Obama would be a “mere executive agreement” that could be revoked “with the stroke of a pen and future Congresses could modify the terms of the agreement at any time.”

President Obama and several other top officials in his administration have termed the letter an attempt to “sabotage” the nuclear talks underway between Iran and the P5+1 countries – the US, Britain, France, China, Russia, and Germany, which have entered a sensitive final stage.

According to a report published by The Hill Newspaper on Tuesday, the much-criticized letter has divided the Republican Party and forced it to play defensive, endangering the party’s chances of approving a new round of sanctions against Iran.

Republican Senator Jeff Flake said the letter isn’t “helpful” or “productive.” “These are tough enough negotiations as it stands. And introducing this kind of letter, I didn’t think would be helpful.”

Even Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Corker, who has been advocating for more sanctions against Iran, criticized the letter. He said he did not think the letter “was something that would help get us to an outcome that we’re seeking.”

Iran and the P5+1 are holding negotiations to work out a final deal aimed at ending the longstanding standoff over the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program.

The scale of Iran’s uranium enrichment and the timetable for the lifting of anti-Iran sanctions are seen as major sticking points in the talks.

The illegal sanctions on Iran have been imposed based on the unfounded accusation that Tehran is pursuing non-civilian objectives in its nuclear program.

The Republican-dominated Congress is pushing a new round of sanctions on Iran. Obama has warned Congress not to impose more sanctions on Iran, saying he will veto any such move.

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