Iran Streets Erupt in Joy, US Political Battle Begins

The Obama administration may have worked out a nuclear deal with Iran, but the fight isn't over yet.

While Iranians took to the streets of Tehran to celebrate the deal, it ignited a new political battle between President Barack Obama and critics of the deal.

"It may be the worst diplomatic agreement in the history of the United States," Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., said.

Cotton told MSNBC's "Morning Joe" program the deal paves the way for Iran to develop a nuclear bomb, while giving them "tens of billions of dollars in sanctions relief, even lifting the arms embargo at a time when they're destabilizing the entire Middle East."

"The American people will repudiate this and I believe Congress will kill the deal," he said.

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., agreed, saying, "It looks like they made a worse deal than even we had feared."

How will the Iran deal impact the United States and other countries? Our CBN News expert panel discusses this and more in a special roundtable report. Click play to watch.

The agreement purportedly lays out a plan to limit Iran's nuclear capabilities, for now.

Supporters say Iran agreed to cut back most of its nuclear activities for the next 10 years and submit to "managed" international inspections. In return, the United States and its allies will lift the crippling sanctions on Iran's economy.

But critics say it's a very good deal for the Iranians and a very bad deal for America and the world because it can't be verified or enforced.

Iran hasn't agreed to anytime, anywhere inspections and is not dismantling its nuclear program. On the contrary, the deal leaves its nuclear facilities pretty much intact.

Many say the regime will likely use the financial windfall to fund its terror proxies throughout the region.

"So what's the alternative?" Secretary of State John Kerry asked. "The alternative is to what, go to war immediately? Bomb them? Sanction them further? Well wait, you can't sanction them further!"

The Senate now has 60 days to review the deal and Republicans seem unified in their opposition.

"Ending Iran's nuclear program was supposed to be the point of these talks in the first place," Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said. "What's already clear about this agreement is that it will not achieve -- or even come close to achieving -- that original purpose."

Israel continues to voice its opposition to the agreement.

"Israel is not be bound by this deal with Iran because Iran continues to seek our destruction," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said. "We will always defend ourselves."

Meanwhile, the White House assured Netanyahu the United States will continue to support Israel.