article_snippet: Washington (CNN)In a strongly worded letter, The White House Saturday told Senate Foreign Relations Chairman Bob Corker (R-TN) a bill he is drafting would likely have a "profoundly negative impact" on the ongoing negotiations between the U.S. and Iran over Tehran's nuclear program.
article_snippet: The White House earlier threatened to veto such a measure.
article_snippet: The White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough, in a letter saying it would further threaten talks over Tehran's nuclear program, told Senate Foreign Relations Chairman Bob Corker (R-TN) a bill he is drafting White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough could be detrimental to talks over Tehran's nuclear program by "emboldening Iranian hard-liners, inviting a counter-productive response from the Iranian majiles (Majles, the Parliament); differentiating the U.S. position from our allies in the negotiations; and once again calling into question our ability to negotiate this deal.
article_snippet: The chief of staff said that Congress can terminate the existing Iran sanctions that are included in laws, but the President can relax some sanctions put into place by executive order unilaterally.
article_snippet: One of the major issues between the U.S. and Iran is the timetable for lifting of some sanctions put into place by executive order unilaterally.
article_snippet: If congressional action is perceived as preventing us from reaching a deal, congressional action will create divisions within the international community, putting at risk the very international cooperation that has been essential to us ability to pressure Iran.
article_snippet: Put simply, congressional action would potentially make congressional action impossible to secure international cooperation for additional sanctions, while putting at risk the existing multilateral sanctions" now in place, McDonough said in McDonough letter.
article_snippet: Corker also urged the President not to go to the United Nations for a vote regarding lifting of some sanctions put into place by executive order unilaterally, as Reuters reported was being considered.
article_snippet: "Enabling the United Nations to consider an agreement or portions of the United Nations, while simultaneously threatening to veto legislation that would enable Congress to do the same, is a direct affront to the American people and seeks to undermine Congress appropriate role," the President wrote.
highlights_snippet: The White House sent a letter saying The White House would further threaten talks over Tehran's nuclear program .