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White House accuses Congress of 'interfering' over Iran Obama mocks Republican letter to Iran over nuclear talks
(about 3 hours later)
A letter sent by the US Congress to Iran "interferes" in ongoing nuclear talks, the White House has said. US President Barack Obama has criticised a letter from Republican senators to Iran, accusing them of "interfering" in ongoing nuclear talks.
The five-paragraph letter, signed by 47 Republican senators, reminds Iran that any deal is just an executive agreement unless it gets congressional approval. He said the 47 senators made an "unusual coalition" with Iran's hard-line religious leaders.
The letter reminds Iran that any deal is just an executive agreement unless it gets congressional approval.
Talks on Iran's nuclear programme are at a critical stage, with an outline agreement due on 31 March.Talks on Iran's nuclear programme are at a critical stage, with an outline agreement due on 31 March.
On 3 March, Israel's prime minister told Congress that the existing deal could "pave Iran's path to the bomb". Last week Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Congress the deal currently being negotiated could "pave Iran's path to the bomb".
In their letter to Iran, the senators suggest the country's leaders "may not fully understand our constitutional system". Separately, officials confirmed that US Secretary of State John Kerry would meet his Iranian counterpart, Mohammad Javad Zarif, on Sunday in Switzerland, as part of the process.
They note that any agreement without their support would exist solely between US President Barack Obama and Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei. The P5+1 group of major powers - the US, UK, France, Russia and China plus Germany - is seeking to persuade Iran to curb its nuclear programme in exchange for an easing of UN sanctions.
They are trying to address concerns that Iran is seeking nuclear weapons technology, something Tehran denies.
Republicans and some Democrats have long been pushing for Congress to get a vote on any deal.
But the White house insists such an agreement does not require the approval of legislators, the BBC's Gary O'Donoghue reports from Washington.
'Somewhat ironic'
Responding to the letter, Mr Obama said it was "somewhat ironic" that Republican senators were trying to establish a "back-channel" with Iran, adding that he would concentrate his efforts on trying to strike a deal.
Earlier, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said the letter interfered with diplomatic negotiations. He called it a "rush to war, or at least the rush to the military option".
Mr Zarif dismissed the letter as a propaganda ploy, adding that if a future administration revoked a deal it would amount to a blatant violation of international law.
In their letter to Iran, published on the website of Senator Tom Cotton, the senators suggest Iran's leaders "may not fully understand our constitutional system".
They note that any agreement without their support would exist solely between President Obama and Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei.
The signatories add that "most of us will remain in office well beyond [January 2017]" when Mr Obama's second term comes to an end.The signatories add that "most of us will remain in office well beyond [January 2017]" when Mr Obama's second term comes to an end.
The letter comes after Congress invited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to address them last week on the issue of the Iran talks. The letter comes shortly after Congress invited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to speak on the issue of the Iran talks.
The move earned White House disapproval as Congress did not consult with them first. That move earned White House disapproval as Congress acted unilaterally.
Last November, the Republicans won control of both chambers of Congress, giving them significant power over Mr Obama. Republicans now control both chambers of Congress after winning elections last November, giving them considerable leverage over Mr Obama.
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