McCain: Obama administration pursuing ‘nirvana’ with Iran deal

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) on Sunday continued to condemn the United States’ push to secure an international accord over Iran’s nuclear program, suggesting it was part of the Obama administration’s push for a state of “nirvana.”

{mosads}”So much of their actions are related to this nirvana, this mirage out there that with the nuclear deal, we’re gonna have some type of new relationship throughout the Middle East,” McCain said on CNN’s “State of the Union.”

McCain invoked Iran’s recent moves sending nine ships to waters near Yemen, where Iran is thought to be fighting a proxy war against Saudi Arabia and others by supporting the Houthi rebels, whom the U.S. has condemned.

“That scared the hell out of our Sunni Arab allies, and, frankly, it scares the hell out of me,” McCain said, noting Iran’s moves in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Yemen.

“For us to continuously argue that they stopped their campaign, I think, is ludicrous, part of this delusion that there’s gonna be a U.S.-Iranian alliance after the nuclear deal is consummated,” McCain said of Iran’s moves in Yemen.

The Senate Armed Services Committee chairman also dinged the White House for saying it was deploying Navy ships to the Gulf of Aden region to preserve the “freedom of navigation” instead of simply thwarting Iran.

“Come on, let’s be straight with the American people,” McCain said to President Obama, “it was all about the resupply of the Houthis.”

The Obama administration early this month reached a framework agreement over Iran’s nuclear program and is negotiating with five world powers to secure a final deal by a June 30 deadline.