Republican senators demand answers from Kerry on Iran

A group of 31 senators warned Secretary of State John KerryJohn Forbes Kerry The continuous whipsawing of climate change policy Budowsky: United Democrats and Biden's New Deal Overnight Energy: 600K clean energy jobs lost during pandemic, report finds | Democrats target diseases spread by wildlife | Energy Dept. to buy 1M barrels of oil MORE against making any nuclear concessions to Iran that would pose a threat to the U.S.

In a letter spearheaded by Sen. Mark KirkMark Steven Kirk On the Trail: Senate GOP hopefuls tie themselves to Trump Biden campaign releases video to explain 'what really happened in Ukraine' Why Republicans are afraid to call a key witness in the impeachment inquiry MORE (R-Ill.), the senators expressed grave concern over "troubling" reports that the administration is considering a deal that would allow Iranian nuclear centrifuges to be "disconnected" instead of "dismantled.

“We have learned that the United States and its P5+1 negotiating partners may now be offering troubling nuclear concessions to Iran in the hopes of rapidly concluding negotiations for a ‘deal’,” the lawmakers wrote to Kerry. “Given that a nuclear Iran poses the greatest long-term threat to the security of the United States, Israel, and other allies, we are gravely concerned about the possibility of any new agreement that, in return for further relief of U.S.-led international sanctions, would allow Iran to produce explosive nuclear material.”

In a statement Saturday, Kirk said Under Secretary of State Wendy Sherman and her team "are getting desperate, floating these so-called ‘creative solutions’ to hide the fact that they haven’t gotten Iran to agree to a single irreversible step to eliminate Iran’s nuclear weapons capability.”

As world leaders begin a new round of talks aimed at limiting Iran's nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief, the deadline to reach a deal by Nov. 24 is just months away.

The letter was also signed by Sens. Ron JohnsonRonald (Ron) Harold Johnson Schumer to GOP: Cancel 'conspiracy hearings' on origins of Russia probe Comey, Rice, Clapper among GOP senator's targets for subpoenas amid Obama-era probe Schumer: GOP should 'stop sitting on their hands' on coronavirus bill MORE (R-Wis.), John BoozmanJohn Nichols Boozman The Hill's Coronavirus Report: National Portrait Gallery's Kim Sajet says this era rewiring people's relationship with culture, art; Trump's war with Twitter heats up Congress headed toward unemployment showdown We can't afford to let local news die MORE (R-Ark.), John HoevenJohn Henry Hoeven Bipartisan senators seek funding for pork producers forced to euthanize livestock House Republicans threaten pushback on Saudi Arabia amid oil market slump Overnight Energy: Trump rollback of Obama mileage standards faces court challenges | Court strikes down EPA suspension of Obama greenhouse gas rule | Trump floats cutting domestic oil production MORE (R-N.D.), Lisa MurkowskiLisa Ann Murkowski OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Trump administration gives renewables more time to take advantage of tax credits | House Republicans introduce bill to speed mining projects for critical minerals | Watchdog faults EPA communications in contamination of NC river Trump administration gives renewables more time to take advantage of tax credits GOP senators urge Trump not to restrict guest worker visas MORE (R-Alaska), Daniel Coats (R-Ind.), Pat RobertsCharles (Pat) Patrick Roberts Overnight Defense: Democrats expand probe into State IG's firing | House schedules late June votes with defense bill on deck | New Navy secretary sworn in Government watchdog: 'No evidence' Pompeo violated Hatch Act with Kansas trips The 10 Senate seats most likely to flip MORE (R-Kan.), John BarrassoJohn Anthony Barrasso IRS proposes guidance for expanded carbon capture tax credit No better time to modernize America's energy infrastructure EPA's Wheeler grilled by Democrats over environmental rollbacks amid COVID-19 MORE (R-Wyo.), Ted CruzRafael (Ted) Edward Cruz Hillicon Valley: Twitter flags Trump tweet for 'glorifying violence' | Cruz calls for criminal investigation into Twitter over alleged sanctions violations | Senators urge FTC to investigate TikTok child privacy issues Cruz calls for criminal investigation into Twitter over alleged Iranian sanction violations On The Money: Trump signs order targeting social media firms' legal protections | 2M more Americans file new jobless claims, pushing total past 40M | White House to forgo summer economic forecast amid COVID-19, breaking precedent MORE (R-Tex.), John CornynJohn Cornyn GOP senators urge Trump not to restrict guest worker visas Castro, Warren, Harris to speak at Texas Democratic virtual convention Democratic unity starts to crack in coronavirus liability reform fight MORE (R-Tex.), Johnny IsaksonJohnny Isakson Justice Department closing stock investigations into Loeffler, Inhofe, Feinstein Loeffler runs ad tying Doug Collins to Pelosi, Sanders, Biden The 10 Senate seats most likely to flip MORE (R-Ga.), Michael B. Enzi (R-Wyo.), Jeff SessionsJefferson (Jeff) Beauregard Sessions The Memo: Trump tweets cross into new territory Sessions goes after Tuberville's coaching record in challenging him to debate The 10 Senate seats most likely to flip MORE (R-Ala.), Lindsey GrahamLindsey Olin Graham Schumer to GOP: Cancel 'conspiracy hearings' on origins of Russia probe Graham announces hearing on police use of force after George Floyd killing In a new cold war with China, America may need to befriend Russia MORE (R-S.C.), Dean HellerDean Arthur Heller On The Trail: Democrats plan to hammer Trump on Social Security, Medicare Lobbying World Democrats spend big to put Senate in play MORE (R-Nev.), Tim ScottTimothy (Tim) Eugene Scott Mississippi mayor defends officers in George Floyd's death: 'If you can talk, you can breathe' The truth behind Biden's 'you ain't black' gaffe Senators ask DeVos to adjust FAFSA form due to the coronavirus pandemic MORE (R-S.C.), Kelly AyotteKelly Ann Ayotte Bottom line Bottom Line Lobbying World MORE (R-N.H.), James M. Inhofe (R-Okla.), Lamar AlexanderAndrew (Lamar) Lamar Alexander Senate GOP chairman criticizes Trump withdrawal from WHO Trump: US 'terminating' relationship with WHO Soured on Fox, Trump may be seeking new propaganda outlet MORE (R-Tenn.), Roy BluntRoy Dean Blunt Washington prepares for a summer without interns GOP faces internal conflicts on fifth coronavirus bill Senators weigh traveling amid coronavirus ahead of Memorial Day MORE (R-Mo.), John ThuneJohn Randolph Thune Frustration builds in key committee ahead of Graham subpoena vote The Hill's Morning Report - Presented by Facebook - US death toll nears 100,000 as country grapples with reopening GOP faces internal conflicts on fifth coronavirus bill MORE (R-S.D.), Jerry MoranGerald (Jerry) Moran Memorial Day during COVID-19: How to aid our country's veterans Pass the Primary Care Enhancement Act Hillicon Valley: Facebook permanently shifting thousands of jobs to remote work | Congressional action on driverless cars hits speed bump during pandemic | Republicans grill TikTok over data privacy concerns MORE (R-Kan.), Chuck GrassleyCharles (Chuck) Ernest Grassley Grassley, Leahy urge Roberts to permanently air Supreme Court arguments Democrats broaden probe into firing of State Department watchdog Former Romney strategist joins anti-Trump Lincoln Project MORE (R-Iowa), Tom CoburnThomas (Tom) Allen Coburn Tom Coburn's annual gift to taxpayers Joe Biden still doesn't have a campaign theme The Hill's 12:30 Report: Drug companies inch closer to COVID-19 vaccine MORE (R-Okla.), Orrin G. Hatch (R-Utah), Mike JohannsMichael (Mike) Owen Johanns Meet the Democratic sleeper candidate gunning for Senate in Nebraska Farmers, tax incentives can ease the pain of a smaller farm bill Lobbying World MORE (R-Neb.), David VitterDavid Bruce Vitter Bottom line Bottom line The biggest political upsets of the decade MORE (R-La.), Mike LeeMichael (Mike) Shumway Lee House punts on FISA, votes to begin negotiations with Senate House cancels planned Thursday vote on FISA This week: Surveillance fight sets early test for House's proxy voting MORE (R-Utah), Roger F. Wicker (R-Miss.), James E. Risch (R-Idaho) and Thad CochranWilliam (Thad) Thad Cochran Espy wins Mississippi Senate Democratic primary Bottom Line Mike Espy announces Mississippi Senate bid MORE (R-Miss.).