Republicans on the Hill slam Obama administration talks with Iran as 'dangerous national security failure'

NY Daily News

WASHINGTON -- Iran will "rope-a-dope" the U.S. during slow-moving talks over its nuclear program that now represent "a dangerous international failure," Republicans declared Tuesday while questioning top American negotiators.

Bipartisan unease over recently extended talks was evident as the Senate Foreign Relations Committee assessed the negotiations and ongoing economic sanctions on Iran.

"My opinion is that this entire thing is a disaster," declared Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), a possible Republican presidential contender in 2016. "This is a dangerous national security failure."

Wendy Sherman of the State Department and Gary Cohen of the Treasury Department defended the modest but clear progress made in the talks. They justified extending them until November and resisted calls by senators from both sides to not extend them again.

They did not totally deny at least the possibility of Rubio's "rope-a-dope" notion. "I cannot tell you that our diplomacy will succeed," Sherman said at one point.

She cited "substantial differences" that remain, notably the question of Iran's capacity to enrich uranium.

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), another potential White House hopeful, questioned Sherman on an array of in-the-weeds specifics on the talks related to a potential "pathway" for Iran to secretly make nuclear arms.

In several instances, Sherman said she could not respond publicly but could in a classified session.

But even as she acknowledged Iran's "abysmal human right record, support of terrorism and outright hostility toward Israel," she argued that 'we can see a path for forward to get to a comprehensive plan of action."

Cohen cited data on the economic impact to Iran of ongoing sanctions, which include significant curbs on foreign trade. The value of Iran's currency has fallen 7% since November, he said, and the expected "trajectory" of its economy is down 25% from what was predicted three years ago.

But he and Sherman were united that it would be a mistake to set a final deadline on talks, a desire of the committee's two leaders, Sen. Bob Menendez (D-Fla.) and Bob Corker (R. Tenn.).

"I heard what you said and in essence you said there is no deadline," said Corker. "I know you have to fudge a little bit but in essence it was said there's not a deadline."

"Our intent is to end this on the 24th of November," Sherman replied, not giving him the answer he truly desired.

Corker also noted that the date falls in a period that Congress likely will not be in session, perhaps having already concluded its election-year 'lame duck" session.

Congress, he fretted, "is playing no role other than asking questions."

But, he also said with chagrin, "the goal posts are moving," the view of some members that Iran has already been cut too much slack in the talks.

Sherman demurred and reiterated that the only way an agreement would work would be with the full participation and support of Congress.

'We all share the same goal," she said.