Kerry, GOP face off over Iran deal
The secretary of state said lawmakers in search of a better deal are pursuing a "fantasy."
Secretary of State John Kerry and Republican lawmakers clashed over the Iran deal for more than four hours July 23 as Congress formally launched its 60-day review of the landmark agreement.
The heated hearing in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee — the first since the deal was struck — foreshadowed the tough road ahead as the Obama administration tries to prevent Congress from scuttling the agreement. Republicans are trying to assemble a veto-proof majority for legislation to reimpose sanctions, which could lead Iran to walk away.
Committee Chairman Bob Corker, R-Tenn., opened fire with his assertion that the US and other negotiators had been “fleeced” by Iran. He said he was “depressed” by the administration’s repeated claims that demanding a tougher deal now could only lead to war.
“You have turned Iran from being a pariah, to now Congress being a pariah," Corker said.
