Senators seek say in Iran nuclear negotiations

WASHINGTON — Senators on Tuesday told Obama administration officials that they want a say in the outcome of negotiations aimed at curbing Iran’s nuclear program.

The talks with Iran, which have been extended until November, have been questioned by lawmakers of both parties. They say the U.S. and its allies may settle for limited concessions that would let the Islamic Republic continue on a path toward developing a nuclear bomb.

“This entire thing is a disaster,” said Sen. Marco Rubio, a Florida Republican on the Foreign Relations Committee, which held a hearing on the Iran talks Tuesday. “This is a dangerous national-security failure in my opinion.”

Wendy Sherman, undersecretary of state for political affairs, defended the talks and the interim agreement extending them, while promising to keep Congress informed of any final decisions.

“Although serious obstacles do remain, we are moving in the right direction,” Sherman, who has been a leading negotiator at the talks among Iran, the U.S. and five other nations, told the committee.

Under the interim agreement, Iran has agreed to stop enriching uranium to 20 percent — a step toward the level needed for nuclear weapons — and to accelerate elimination of its stockpile of such material, she said.

In return, Iran has won an easing of some sanctions, though most remain in place.

Lawmakers also expressed frustration with talks that they say have dragged on without signs of a final deal, while giving Iran economic relief.

“I do not support another extension of negotiations,” said Democratic Sen. Robert Menendez of New Jersey, the committee’s chairman. “At that point, Iran will have exhausted its opportunities to put real concessions on the table, and I will be prepared to move forward with additional sanctions.”

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