White House spokesman Josh Earnest denied that the administration is snubbing the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee over his support for new sanctions on Iran.
State Department and other administration officials have launched a full-court press this week to make the case to lawmakers to hold off on new Iran sanctions.
They argue that imposing fresh sanctions on Tehran could upend the talks aimed at rolling back Iran’s nuclear program and any chance of striking a permanent deal.
Officials have been holding White House briefings with key members of Congress, but those meetings have not included Sen. Bob Menendez, the New Jersey Democrat who is chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee. Top Democrats on foreign policy and national security will meet at the White House Wednesday on Iran and other national security issues, but Menendez reportedly was not invited.
Earnest, however, said Menendez’s exclusion did not amount to a White House snub over his strong and vocal support for more sanctions.
“There is no single member of Congress that has had more conversations with senior administration officials in regard to Iran’s nuclear program than Menendez,” Earnest said.
Earnest also praised Menendez for his “sustained commitment” in pushing Iran to stop progress on its nuclear program.
“Sen. Menendez has played a very leading role,” he said. “The fact that we’re having additional meetings here at the White House with other member of Congress just means we’re keeping our commitment to have conversations with the chairman and the rank and file as well.”
Earnest also denied that the administration is punishing Menendez by failing to have Secretary of State John Kerry and other senior administration officials testify before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on the status of the talks with Iran.
Menendez is holding a hearing Wednesday on the status of the negotiations with Iran, featuring the testimony of three defense think tank experts but no administration officials.
Earnest said he “strongly disagrees” with any characterization that the administration has been uncooperative with Menendez and argued that Kerry has been busy, noting that he is in Brussels meeting with 60 international coalition partners on the global strategy to counter ISIS.
“Secretary Kerry is focused on another very important matter,” he said.
Menendez on Tuesday told the Washington Examiner that the White House attempts to convince lawmakers not to impose new sanctions is a “non-starter.”
After the administration missed its deadline last week and extended negotiations for seven more months, he argues that time has run out for negotiations to roll back Iran’s nuclear program and pledged to move a bill imposing fresh sanctions on Tehran in Congress’ lame-duck session or as soon as possible.
“We’re happy to work with the administration if they are willing to consider a calibrated sanctions bill, but if the answer is no to anything except these negotiations that have gone on for a year without much progress, then that’s a non-starter for me,” he said.
