This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-31796235
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Obama mocks Republican letter to Iran over nuclear talks | Obama mocks Republican letter to Iran over nuclear talks |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| US President Barack Obama has criticised a letter from Republican senators to Iran, accusing them of "interfering" in ongoing nuclear talks. | US President Barack Obama has criticised a letter from Republican senators to Iran, accusing them of "interfering" in ongoing nuclear talks. |
| He said the 47 senators made an "unusual coalition" with Iran's hard-line religious leaders. | 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. | 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. |
| Last week Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Congress the deal currently being negotiated 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". |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | But the White house insists such an agreement does not require the approval of legislators, the BBC's Gary O'Donoghue reports from Washington. |
| 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. | 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". | 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. | 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". | 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. | 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 shortly after Congress invited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to speak 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. |
| That move earned White House disapproval as Congress acted unilaterally. | That move earned White House disapproval as Congress acted unilaterally. |
| Republicans now control both chambers of Congress after winning elections last November, giving them considerable leverage over Mr Obama. | Republicans now control both chambers of Congress after winning elections last November, giving them considerable leverage over Mr Obama. |
| Nuclear Iran: What world powers want - and what they fear | Nuclear Iran: What world powers want - and what they fear |
| Iran's main nuclear sites | Iran's main nuclear sites |