Obama's choice on Iran deal "absurd": Senate leader McConnell

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Thursday rejected President Obama’s pitch for the Iran nuclear deal, saying it was “absurd” to argue that lawmakers must essentially choose between the agreement or going to war. Obama made a “huge mistake” with that argument, McConnell said in response to a speech by Obama on Wednesday. “It’s not this deal versus war. That’s the argument they’ve been making during the whole negotiation. It’s either this deal or a better deal, or more sanctions.” Obama defended the July 14 U.S.-led international deal against a furious lobbying effort by political opponents and Israel, and said abandoning the agreement would open up the prospect of war.