Congresswoman Niki Tsongas had high praise for two US negotiators with Massachusetts ties who helped broker the Iran nuclear deal.
"I do commend our Secretary of State John Kerry, and [Energy] Secretary Moniz, and [I'm] especially proud of them as they come from Massachusetts. Their efforts were tireless, and this took place over many years," Tsongas said Thursday on Boston Public Radio.
Tsongas hasn't made up her mind about the 159-page agreement, which was settled earlier in the week.
"Vice President Biden came to speak to us. He's obviously part of the administration. He did say that he'd had his own reservations as this process began, but in his mind they've been addressed. But I think we all will have our questions, and we're going to have to think them through because there is a lot at stake here," Tsongas said. "Those of us from Massachusetts [...] all understand how much is at stake, and I think we're all going to spend a lot of time talking to our constituents."
When asked whether she thought Republican lawmakers were too quick to condemn the deal, Tsongas said she "can't imagine" everyone has read and understood the agreement. She pointed out that it wasn't a strict Democrat-versus-Republican issue.
"On the Senate side I was heartened to hear from Senator Reid that Senator Corker is going to be holding a series of hearings. He has a lot of reservations about the announced agreement, but nevertheless I think [he understands] how much went into this."
On Wednesday at a press conference at the White House, the fur flew when a press correspondent asked President Obama why the nuclear deal wasn't predicated on the release of four Americans currently in Iran's custody. The President said "nobody's content" with the status of those four Americans, and reiterated a commitment to bring them home. Congresswoman Tsongas echoed the President's remarks.
"I do think this was an opportunity, but I also know that — given the fact that it is not part of the final agreement — it’s not over, either," Tsongas said. "One of the realities is that they are holding these Americans, and that we as a country have to work very hard to get their release. But, it seems to me that this is an opening for Iran to do the right thing and let those Americans go."
