![](\"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2013\/11\/cantor.jpg\" "\\"cantor\\"")
ABC News – House Majority Leader Eric Cantor leveled sharp criticism today at the Obama administration for its handling of the Iranian nuclear talks, declaring in an interview: \u201cOur strategy with Iran should be distrust and verify.\u201d<\/p>\nABC News – House Majority Leader Eric Cantor leveled sharp criticism today at the Obama administration for its handling of the Iranian nuclear talks, declaring in an interview: \u201cOur strategy with Iran should be distrust and verify.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI think the policy is very na\u00efve,\u201d Cantor told ABC News. \u201cTo try and go strike a deal for a deal\u2019s sake could jeopardize U.S. security interests.\u201d<\/p>\n
With fresh negotiations underway in Geneva between the United States and five other world powers, Cantor raised skepticism of an emerging deal that calls for relaxing economic sanctions on Iran in exchange for Tehran agreeing to halt the development of its nuclear program.<\/p>\n
Cantor, a Virginia Republican, said the Obama administration had not spoken out forcefully enough to condemn the comments of Iran\u2019s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who described Israel as \u201cthe rabid dog of the region.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe information that I\u2019m hearing out of Geneva is very startling to me,\u201d Cantor said, particularly noting the supreme leader\u2019s comments about Israel.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese are not views that we would think America would share, obviously,\u201d Cantor said. \u201cThey don\u2019t call him the supreme leader for nothing. He is the supreme leader. These are the people that you are dealing with and I think that this president and the administration should be going into these negotiations with open eyes and I\u2019m worried right now of all of the indications I\u2019m getting to the contrary.\u201d<\/p>\n
Secretary of State John Kerry, who may return to Geneva if the negotiators appear close to reaching an accord, downplayed the criticism.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need to stay away from the invective right now,\u201d Kerry told reporters. \u201cWe need to engage in serious conversation, delicate time and we all need to respect that.\u201d<\/p>\n
While the White House asked Congress to hold off on new sanctions toward Iran, skepticism on Capitol Hill is high over the prospect of reaching a deal over freezing the Iranian nuclear program. Cantor and other House Republicans supported new sanctions against Iran this summer, but the Senate has not followed suit.<\/p>\n
Cantor, the highest-ranking Republican Jewish leader in Congress, was unsparing in his condemnation of the Obama administration\u2019s handling of the Iranian talks. He said he was \u201cvery, very concerned\u201d the United States was rushing toward a deal, without taking into account the objections of Israel.<\/p>\n
\u201cI add to my concern the lack of leadership in terms of foreign policy that this administration has been about, especially in the Middle East,\u201d Cantor said. \u201cWhat we\u2019ve seen now is our allies are indicating that they no longer trust us and our adversaries are indicating that they no longer fear us.\u201d<\/p>\n
Asked whether the tone of his criticism \u2013 notable, given the ongoing negotiations in Geneva \u2013 could undermine the administration\u2019s position, Cantor said: \u201cOur system of our governance leaves room for debate.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need to make sure that pressure stays,\u201d Cantor said. \u201cIran has never in the history of this regime demonstrated a willingness to work with the international community.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
ABC News – House Majority Leader Eric Cantor leveled sharp criticism today at the Obama administration for its handling of the Iranian nuclear talks, declaring in an interview: “Our strategy […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[175],"class_list":["post-15310","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","category-nuclear","tag-updated"],"yoast_head":"\n