A Republican lawmaker has expressed fury over President Barack Obama's remarks that "donors" are driving the US Congress to impose sanctions on Iran.
House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy said, "I am offended by President Obama's reported insinuation that congressional concerns about Iran are driven by donors and politics," the Washington Examiner reported.
According to a story by the New York Times President Obama and Democratic Senator Robert Menendez traded sharp words on Thursday over whether Congress should vote to impose new anti-Iran sanctions while the administration is negotiating with Tehran about its nuclear program.
When Obama accused his fellow Democrats of being moved by "donors and others," Menendez reportedly stood and expressed his outrage, telling the president he took "personal offense" to the remark, the Times reported.
On Friday, Obama warned lawmakers not to trigger new sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program, vowing to veto any new sanctions legislation. He also said such a move would upset diplomatic talks and increase the likelihood of a military conflict with Tehran.
In a joint news conference at the White House, Obama and British Prime Minister David Cameron urged members of the US Congress to be patient and hold off on legislation calling for further sanctions.
"There is no good argument for us to try to undercut, undermine the negotiations until they've played themselves out," Obama told reporters.
