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                    Washington Awaits Outcome of Iran Talks

   by Michael Bowman

   Suspense surrounding extended international negotiations over Iran's
   nuclear program is keenly felt in Washington, where any deal would face
   tough votes in both houses of the Republican-led Congress. Some
   lawmakers already are positioning themselves in opposition to whatever
   pact may emerge by Tuesday's deadline.

   As talks in Vienna race against the clock, Republican Senator Tom
   Cotton believes America is making a mistake.

   "Iran is an anti-American, terrorism-sponsoring outlaw regime.  Iran
   should have faced a simple choice: they dismantle their nuclear program
   entirely, or they face economic devastation and military destruction of
   their nuclear facilities," said he, speaking on ABC's Meet the Press
   program.

   Cotton may be a strident critic, but he is not alone.  Senator and
   presidential contender Lindsey Graham holds a similar position.

   "If the United States is not firm in our intention to deny them such
   weapons, Iran will trigger a nuclear arms race in the least-stable
   region on Earth, making it more likely the people who aspire to
   genocide will have the most-effective means to commit it," said Graham,
   speaking at a campaign rally.

   Democratic lawmakers tend to disagree with the hardline approach
   espoused by their Republican colleagues.

   "The best option is a strong agreement," said Senator Ben Cardin, who
   is taking a wait-and-see approach on congressional approval.

   "We will be able to see whether we will have open inspections, whether
   the sanctions relief is commensurate with the progress Iran has made to
   give up its nuclear weapons program," said Cardin, also speaking on
   Meet the Press.

   Congressional review of any nuclear accord is warranted, according to
   analyst David Albright.

   "Because of the significant impact on U.S. national security, this
   agreement warrants special and extraordinary congressional scrutiny.
   And the scrutiny should not only lead to an up-or-down vote, it should
   also result in legislation that enshrines and elaborates on its
   provisions," says Albright, who is with the Institute for Science and
   International Security.

   Despite reports of progress in Vienna, the White House says nothing is
   assured.

   "Ultimately, this is going to be up to the Iranians to determine
   whether or not they meet the requirements the international community
   has set forth," said President Barack Obama.

   While Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif speaks in
   cautiously optimistic tones, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
   has already passed judgment on diplomacy, saying it "is not a
   breakthrough, but a collapse" of the quest to prevent a nuclear-armed
   Iran.
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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/washington-iran-nuclear-talks/2849774
   .html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/washington-iran-nuclear-talks/2849774.html