The White House has issued a new warning to the Republicans in the U.S. Senate to stay out of negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program.

White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough told the Republican Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Corker in a letter on March 14 that legislation he is sponsoring would potentially prevent any agreement from succeeding.

Corker’s proposed legislation seeks to assert that Congress must vote to approve any deal between Iran and the P5+1 group of world powers – the United States, Britain, France, Russian, and China plus Germany.

The White House letter also criticizes a provision in Corker’s bill that would undo President Barack Obama’s authority to lift existing sanctions on Iran.

McDonough reiterated the White House position that congressional action before a deal is reached would be harmful to the negotiations, which are due to resume on March 15 in in Switzerland.
Based on reporting by Reuters, AP, and AFP
RFE/RL