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Obama and Sen. Menendez Spar on How to Handle Iran
(New York Times) Michael D. Shear - President Obama and Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) traded sharp words on Thursday over whether Congress should impose new sanctions on Iran while the administration is negotiating with Tehran about its nuclear program, according to two people who witnessed the exchange at the Senate Democratic Issues Conference in Baltimore. Obama vowed to veto legislation being drafted by Menendez and Sen. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) that would impose the sanctions before the multiparty talks are set to end this summer. Obama said he understood the pressures that senators face from donors and others, but he urged the lawmakers to take the long view rather than make a move for short-term political gain. Menendez, who was seated at a table in front of the podium, stood up and said he took "personal offense." Menendez said he had worked for more than 20 years to curb Iran's nuclear ambitions and had always been focused on the long-term implications. He also warned that sanctions could not be imposed quickly if Congress waited to act and the talks failed.