Cheney calls Iran deal a ‘burden’ for next president

Former Vice President Cheney (R) said Tuesday that President Obama’s nuclear deal with Iran is a “terrible burden to leave the next president.”

“This is a totally radical regime that is the premiere sponsor of state terrorism in the world, and Obama’s about to give them nuclear weapons,” he said while appearing on the “Hugh Hewitt Show.” “I can’t think of a more terrible burden to leave the next president than what Obama is creating here.”

{mosads}Hewitt then asked if Cheney thought Obama was naive to make the deal, or whether it reflected a broader vision for the Middle East.

“I vacillate between the various theories I’ve heard. But you know, if you had somebody as president who wanted to take America down, who wanted to fundamentally weaken our position in the world and reduce our capacity to influence events, turn our back on our allies and encourage our adversaries, it would look exactly like what Barack Obama’s doing,” Cheney said. “I think his actions are constituted in my mind those of the worst president we’ve ever had.”

Last week, Iranian and Western negotiators in Switzerland settled on the outline of a deal over Iran’s nuclear program. If finalized by June, it will limit Iran’s nuclear research in return for lifting economic sanctions that have hurt Tehran’s economy.

The framework agreement has been criticized by Republican and Democratic lawmakers, who say that Congress should have a chance to review the deal. A poll released Wednesday found that nearly a third of Republicans support the deal.