Biden blasts Republican letter to Iran

A letter from Senate Republicans to Iran leaders is drawing fire from a former Senate colleague: Joe Biden.

The vice president said in a statement that the letter is "expressly designed to undercut a sitting President in the midst of sensitive international negotiations" over Iran's nuclear program, and "is beneath the dignity of an institution I revere."

The letter, signed by 47 Senate Republicans, warned Iran that any nuclear deal with the Obama administration could be a temporary one.

"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," said the letter pushed primarily by Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark.

President Obama denounced the letter calling it "somewhat ironic to see some members of Congress wanting to make common cause with the hardliners in Iran."

In his statement, Biden -- a senator from Delaware for 36 years -- said the letter "ignores two centuries of precedent and threatens to undermine the ability of any future American President, whether Democrat or Republican, to negotiate with other nations on behalf of the United States."

While some lawmakers want the chance to review any Iran deal, Biden said:

"However, as the authors of this letter must know, the vast majority of our international commitments take effect without Congressional approval. And that will be the case should the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Russia, China, and Germany reach an understanding with Iran."