Blumenthal: no rift with Obama on Iran oversight bill

President Barack Obama, right, with then-U.S. Senate candidate Richard Blumenthal, left, during a fundraiser in Stamford, Conn., Thursday, Sept. 16, 2010. Photo: Pablo Martinez Monsivais, AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais

President Barack Obama, right, with then-U.S. Senate candidate Richard Blumenthal, left, during a fundraiser in Stamford, Conn., Thursday, Sept. 16, 2010.
Photo: Pablo Martinez Monsivais, AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais

U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., says he is not defying President Barack Obama by supporting a measure that would give Congress the power to reject a nuclear deal with Iran.

“I think there is common ground with the White House,” Blumenthal said Tuesday morning. “I certainly would withdraw from the legislation if it had the effect of impeding or interfering with those negotiations. We simply want a review by Congress at an appropriate time of the agreement, which is absolutely necessary because the sanctions were imposed by Congress so they would have to be lifted by Congress.”

Blumenthal is a co-sponsor of a bipartisan bill that White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest on Monday termed as counterproductive to talks between the U.S. and Iran over that country’s nuclear program and the potential lifting of U.N. sanctions.

“It could potentially interfere with the ongoing negotiations that are slated to continue through June,” Earnest said at Monday’s White House press briefing. “It also could interfere with the ability of the United States to implement the agreement successfully. And it does interfere with a scope of responsibilities that it’s clearly within the purview of the president of the United States. So we’ve made clear about what our differences are with the piece of legislation that’s been most actively discussed on Capitol Hill.”

Blumenthal said there is no conflict between the bill’s supporters, who include New York Sen. Chuck Schumer, and Obama.

“I think Congress should have an appropriate role in reviewing and re-evaluating the agreement,” Blumenthal said. “But the review should follow the negotiations so as not to interfere with them. I’m going to press for an understanding with president if one is possible.”

Neil Vigdor