House Intel Chair Mike Rogers (R., Mich.) endorsed Secretary of State John Kerry's forthcoming meeting with the Iranian foreign minister Tuesday on CNN.
Rogers said the meeting would be a good opportunity to determine whether the rogue nation, in light of increasingly damaging economic sanctions, is looking to compromise on its nuclear program.
However, the House Intel Chair cautioned if nothing concrete comes out of that meeting, the Obama administration should not pursue face-to-face negotiations further:
WOLF BLITZER: Do you have a problem with the fact that the Secretary of State John Kerry will be meeting with the Iranian foreign minister Thursday when the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council plus Germany, they have this meeting with the Iranians, apparently there will be a one-on-one between Kerry and the Iranian foreign minister.
MIKE ROGERS: You know, I think this is prudent. It's the right environment to have that meeting. But I would never have another meeting if there isn't something concrete that comes out of it. It cannot be just for more negotiations. In that particular setting, especially around the notion of a Security Council meeting, I think it's prudent. One of the things that's important, I think we're seeing here, is that the sanctions are taking a bite, they're taking hold. This is no time to let up. This is no time to give him any breathing space. I think it's appropriate for the secretary of state to gauge at the United Nations, I think this is an appropriate place for this to happen. Where he's really at. And if they're taking such a bite that maybe they're looking for some space and would like to give up parts of their nuclear program, fantastic. I don't believe that's true. I think they're looking for space. Use the secretary to determine that. Don't have the president meet with him. The very next meeting of any consequence has to be where they agree, pre-agree, that they're going to allow inspectors, they are going to shut down their enrichment capability. I would do that now. Without that, I would continue, I would ramp up sanctions, I would act as if they haven't changed a bit because candidly, many of us believe they really haven't changed a bit.