The suggestion it was "this deal — or war" that prompted the United States to join with other nations in a nuclear weapons pact with Iran is "just absolute nonsense," Rep. Mike Rogers said Monday on MSNBC's "Morning Joe."
"What happened was, the administration said, 'Hey, we really want a deal,'" the Michigan Republican said. "I think this was a deal for the sake of a deal. I think that's dangerous."
The six-month agreement calls for Iran to limit its nuclear activities while easing some sanctions. Rogers maintains the deal would make future negotiations more difficult.
"It makes the next six months even more difficult to get to a place where we need to be, where we can say we feel comfortable they're not pursuing a nuclear program," he said.
Rogers called the agreement a "huge lost opportunity," and said it is "starting to change the strategic alliances we have in the Middle East."
Despite the deal, Rogers said the House "in a huge bipartisan vote" already passed a new round of sanctions against Iran.
"What you want to do is set the table. You want the Iranians to come to you and say, 'I am ready for a deal,'" he said.
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