47 Senators: Iran nuclear deal could be temporary

WASHINGTON, March 9 (UPI) -- A letter signed by 47 Republican Senators warned Iran any deal over nuclear weapons could last only as long as the Obama administration.

The open letter, by which Senators are attempting to get involved ongoing talks between Western countries and Iran to curtail Iran's nuclear program, prominently mentioned an agreement without congressional approval could be rescinded by the next President.

"Anything not approved by Congress is a mere executive agreement. The next president could revoke such an executive agreement with the stroke of a pen and future Congresses could modify the terms of the agreement at any time," it read in part.

The negotiations, in which U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is heavily involved, will have their next round beginning Mar. 15. They have become an issue in the 2016 Republican presidential campaign, with some Republican legislators and candidates critical of the potential deal for not adequately guaranteeing Iran will not develop its own nuclear weapons. Some members of Congress seek legislation allowing the Senate to override the administration on the deal's final terms.

Some Democratic members of the Senate have said they will approve new economic sanctions against Iran, a move which could prompt Iran to abandon the negotiations, if the administration does not reach an agreement by Mar. 24.

A Republican bill, requiring Congressional approval of any deal, lost support of Democratic leaders after Republicans attempted to speed its passage while Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu visited Washington last week.