A key Democratic senator warned Tuesday that it would be “problematic” if the Obama administration signs a deal under which Iran could still build a nuclear weapon.
“I want to raise my saber with you,” Sen. Bob Menendez told Secretary of State John Kerry, referring to news reports that international negotiators were considering a deal that would gradually lift restrictions on Iran’s ability to enrich uranium.
“If that happens to be in the universe, that’s problematic,” added the New Jersey Democrat, co-author of bipartisan legislation to impose new sanctions on Iran.
“That’s not true,” Kerry replied.
Menendez, ranking Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which hosted Kerry for a hearing Tuesday on the State Department’s budget, has delayed Senate consideration of sanctions until after March 24, the self-imposed deadline for international negotiators to have at least the political framework for a deal limiting Iran’s nuclear ambitions. A November 2013 interim deal expires June 30, and officials in both Washington and Tehran have said they will not seek another extension.
Kerry’s appearance before the committee came a day after he met in Geneva with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif.
Negotiations are set to resume next week.
