47 Republican Senators Send An Open Letter To Iranian Leaders Warning A Nuclear Deal Could Be Undone

47 Senate Republicans Send A Letter To Iranian Leaders Warning About Any Potential Nuclear Deal Between The United States And Iran. On March 9, 47 GOP senators signed a letter written by Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) warning Iranian officials that any agreement not sanctioned by the Republican-led Congress could be undone by a future American President. [Office Of Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR), 3/9/15]

Right-Wing Media Figures Hype GOP Letter To Iran

Hannity Defended Republicans' Open Letter To Iran. On the March 10 edition of Hannity, host Sean Hannity and guest Ralph Peters defended the Republicans' warning letter to Iran as “patriots who are trying to defend our country.” [Fox News, Hannity, 3/10/15]

Laura Ingraham Praised Cotton's Letter To Iranian Leaders. On the March 10 edition of The Laura Ingraham Show, host Ingraham applauded Senator Tom Cotton for doing the “right thing” and standing up to President Obama on Iran. [Courtside Entertainment Group, The Laura Ingraham Show, 3/10/15]

Fox & Friends Co-Host Applauded Cotton's Letter As A Way To Let Iran Know “The President Isn't The Absolute Monarch Of Our Country.” On the March 10 edition of Fox & Friends, co-host Brian Kilmeade defended Cotton's leadership on the letter, saying, “you have a war veteran who just became senator who says 'I got to put my name on something and let them know the president isn't the absolute monarch of our country.'” [Fox News, Fox & Friends, 3/10/15]

GOP Letter Sparks Outrage And Backlash

Seven GOP Senators Come Out Against The Letter. Politico reported that the letter had several Republican dissenters who “have doubts about Cotton's move,” expressing their belief that the letter “could backfire by injecting excessive partisanship into the debate.”  [Politico, 3/11/15] 

Daily Beast: “Some Republicans Who Signed On Are Realizing It Was A Bad Call.” According to The Daily Beast, “some on the Republican side are now rethinking the wisdom of sending a letter,” noting that the backlash may have complicated their efforts to scuttle a deal:

Even among Republicans whose offices have signed the letter, there is some trepidation that the Iran letter injects partisanship into the Iran negotiations, shifting the narrative from the content of the deal to whether Republicans are unfairly trying to undercut the president. [Daily Beast, 3/11/15]

Politico: “Experts Say The Senate GOP's Iran Letter May Be An Unprecedented Breach Of Foreign Policy Protocol.” Politico reported that both parties have a history of challenging the foreign policy decisions of a president, but “experts say the Senate GOP's Iran letter may be an unprecedented breach of foreign policy protocol both in its form and its boldness.” [Politico, 3/10/15]

Wall Street Journal: The GOP Letter Is A “Distraction.” On March 9, The Wall Street Journal's editorial board blasted the letter from 47 GOP senators as a “distraction,” explaining their focus would be better suited convincing the American public and Democrats to push for a bipartisan nuclear deal. [Wall Street Journal, 3/9/15]

Detroit Free Press: “GOP Letter To Iran Disgraces America.” The Detroit Free Press' editorial board decried the letter as “blot on the 114^th U.S. Senate” specifically denouncing the 47 GOP senators who signed the open letter, adding that "[t]hey have also disgraced themselves and undermined the credibility of the nation whose constitution they took an oath to uphold." [Detroit Free Press, 3/11/15]