WASHINGTON D.C.
U.S. negotiator Wendy Sherman refused to give a final deadline for a final agreement concerning the nuclear talks with Iran.
Wendy Sherman, Under Secretary for Political Affairs and a negotiator at the nuclear talks between P5+1 - the U.S., Russia, China, France, Germany and the U.K. - and Iran, in a hearing at the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations declined to say whether the November 24 deadline would be a final one.
During the hearing, answering a question by Republican Senator BobCorker she said: "I have learned in negotiations that it is very difficult to say what will happen at the end of any given period of time."
Congress objected to the Obama administration's loosening of sanctions on Iran, following Geneva talks last year in November, as well as to the recent extension of the nuclear talks.
Both the Senate and the House of Representatives have been critical of Obama for not consulting with Congress before taking action.
Still, Sherman only promised to keep Congress informed throughout the process and refused to say whether the executive branch would ask for legislative action.
"We believe as other administrations do that the executive branch has the authority to take such executive action on this kind of a political understanding that might be reached with Iran," Sherman said.
Senator Corker described the administration’s process in the dealings with Iran as having “zero commitment.”
The nuclear talks between the P5+1 and Iran started last year November in Geneva and parties agreed on a Joint Plan of Action for a six-month period of negotiations. However, parties did not reach an agreement and the deadline for negotiations was extended to November 24.
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