Shaheen critical of Iran letter signed by Ayotte

U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire was one of 47 Republican senators who signed a letter on Monday to Iran critical of negotiations designed to limit that country's nuclear arms capabilities. And that doesn't sit well with U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-NH.

“For more than half a century our foreign policy has been driven by the idea that partisan politics stops at the water’s edge and I was disappointed to see this bedrock principle of our democracy compromised yesterday," Shaheen said in a statement Wednesday. "This letter represented an unprecedented and dangerous attempt to undermine sensitive negotiations that are designed to keep our country safe. I sincerely hope that this effort does not destroy attempts to reach a diplomatic agreement on Iran’s nuclear program as negotiations enter a critical period.”

Ayotte released a statement of her own in defense of her action:
“A nuclear-armed Iran would pose a serious threat to the United States, Israel, and the world, and I am deeply concerned that the agreement the Obama administration is pursuing would allow Iran to continue its acts of regional terrorism and simply delay – and not dismantle – its nuclear weapons program. Congress led the effort to impose the toughest possible sanctions, which brought Iran to the negotiating table. With so much at stake, I believe the Senate should have an opportunity to review any agreement reached between the U.S. and Iran and vote to approve or disapprove that agreement.”

The letter warned that any nuclear arms agreement negotiated with the United State could be easily undone by the next president. Of course, the GOP senators are hoping the next president is a Republican.

"The next president could revoke such an executive agreement with the stroke of a pen and future Congresses could modify the terms of the agreement at any time," it said. Read the full letter here.

Were the actions of Ayotte and other Republican senators correct?