Ted Cruz Defends Decision to Sign Letter to Iran Over Nuclear Deal

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, one of 47 Republicans who signed a controversial letter to Iran about ongoing nuclear talks, said Tuesday he would gladly sign it again.

The conservative lawmaker said on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" that he "would sign it in large print so that the ayatollah wouldn't need his reading glasses to read the signature."

The original letter was slammed by the White House and Democrats as a "reckless" move as the Obama administration attempts to clinch a deal on Tehran's nuclear program. The Republicans who signed the letter warned Iran that the next U.S. president could easily undo any agreement.

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Cruz said Tuesday that he signed the letter partly because the prospective deal is not only "profoundly dangerous both to the security of our friend and ally Israel, but also to American national security."

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In an interview with Vice News' Shane Smith on Monday, Obama said he was "embarrassed" for the senators behind the letter. He said "that's not how America does business."

"For them to address a letter to the Ayatollah, the supreme leader of Iran who they claim is our mortal enemy, and their basic argument to them is don't deal with our president ... that's close to unprecedented," Obama told Smith.

IN-DEPTH

• Iran's Supreme Leader Hits Out at GOP Letter, Cites U.S. 'Deception'
• Rubio: I'd 'Absolutely' Send Another Letter to Iran
• Iran Denounces GOP Senators' Letter

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— Erik Ortiz