GOP raps Biden on Iran remarks

USA TODAY -- Vice President Biden has stirred things up again, this time by giving the Obama administration sole credit for global pressure on Iran to forgo the means to make nuclear weapons.

"When we took office, let me remind you, there was virtually no international pressure on Iran," Biden told a rabbinical group today in Atlanta.

"We were the problem," Biden said. "We were diplomatically isolated in the world, in the region, in Europe."

That comment drew rebukes from Republicans, including the campaign of presidential candidate Mitt Romney.

"All too often, President Obama and his administration have sought to blame America first," said Lanhee Chen, the policy director for Romney. "Yet Vice President Biden's reckless statement today blaming America for -- of all things -- the progress of Iran's nuclear weapons program, has reached a new low."

This comes a few days after Biden's comments on gay marriage inspired questions about Obama's evolving position on the issue.

During his speech to the Rabbinical Assembly, Biden defended the administration's policies toward Iran and Israel.

He suggested the United States would not try to block an Israeli military strike against Iran's nuclear facilities, should that become necessary.

"Were I an Israeli, were I a Jew, I would not contract out my security to anyone," Biden said. "Even a loyal, loyal, loyal friend like the United States."