Skeptics line up as White House tries to sell Iran nuke deal
The Obama administration is working hard to sell the framework agreement with Iran over its nuclear program. Details of the deal have come under question, however, and some are wondering exactly what the U.S. has agreed to.
Over the weekend, discrepancies emerged between the U.S. and Iranian versions of the deal, including how quickly sanctions on the Islamic republic would be lifted. U.S. negotiators said it's not surprising Iran is spinning the framework as favorable to them, but it isn't helping the administration win over skeptics on Capitol Hill and elsewhere, reports CBS News Congressional correspondent Nancy Cordes.
"I think this deal is a dream deal for Iran, and it is a nightmare deal for the world," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday on "Meet the Press."
He sent a warning that any deal that lifts sanctions will make Iran richer and more dangerous.
"Iran will have billions of dollars flow into its coffers -- not for schools, not for roads, but to pump up its worldwide terror machine."
Presidential hopefuls like Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., panned the deal as well, saying it doesn't address Iran's status as a chief sponsor of terrorism.
"Obama is a flawed negotiator," Graham said on "Face the Nation." "His foreign policy has failed on multiple fronts. Nobody in the region trusts him. The Iranians do not fear or respect him, so he will never be able to get the best deal.
In an interview with the New York Times, President Obama pushed back.
"There is no formula, there is no option, to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon that will be more effective than the diplomatic initiative and framework that we've put forward," he said.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein D-Calif., argued Netanyahu and other critics haven't presented an alternative.
"I don't think it's helpful for Israel to come out and oppose this one opportunity to change a major dynamic, which is downhill, a downhill dynamic in this part of the world," she said.
Negotiators have less than three months to turn the framework into a full-scale agreement.
If they succeed, a growing number of lawmakers from both sides say Congress should have the final say on any deal that involves lifting sanctions.
"If the president feels like this is something that's good for the nation, surely he can sell this to the United States Senate and the House," Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., said.
The Senate will take up legislation mandating the White House to seek approval from Congress when it returns on April 13. The White House has said Mr. Obama would veto that bill as it stands now, but Corker said Sunday he believes they may be close to having enough votes to override that veto.