Is lack of direction from Trump hampering Congress on Iran?
Democrats complain they have no idea what the president thinks of Congress' sanctions proposals.
The Donald Trump administration's mixed messages and staffing shortfalls are taking a toll on Congress' ability to counter Iran, according to several Democrats who voted against the nuclear deal.
Several members who want to tighten sanctions say they don't know what the president thinks of their latest proposals. They vowed to move ahead regardless, but expressed frustration about a lack of clarity and engagement from the White House.
"I don't know what the president's Iran policy is about; he hasn't told us," said Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md., the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations panel. "It is certainly a hurdle when you don't have an articulated policy; you don't have negotiations or informational sessions that are taking place between congressional leaders on this issue and the White House; and you don't have confirmed people who you can call up and say, 'This is what we're thinking of, what are you thinking of?'"
The top Democrat on the House panel, Rep. Eliot Engel, D-N.Y., shared similar impressions.
