The Obama administration is operating on the "delusion" that a nuclear deal with Iran will turn one of America's most implacable enemies into a partner for stability in the Middle East, Sen. John McCain told CNBC on Wednesday,
The Washington Free Beacon reports.
"There's a delusion that we're somehow going to have an agreement with Iran — a nuclear agreement — and we're all going to be working together," the Arizona Republican told "Squawk Box" host Becky Quick.
"The Iranians are on the march in the Middle East." said McCain, chairman of the Committee on Armed Services in the newly Republican-run Senate.
McCain also denounced the refusal of the United States to arm Ukranian government forces as the country reels from new attacks by Russia-backed rebels.
"We still refuse to give defensive weapons to the Ukranians," said McCain. " That's another shameful, dishonorable chapter in American history."
McCain, just back from King Abdullah's funeral, which he attended with President Barack Obama, criticized the White House's entire Mideast foreign and military policy — from the battle against the Islamic State (ISIS) in Iraq and Syria to the impression being left on the Saudis.
"Right now we have no strategy," said McCain. "The next time you have someone [from] the administration on this program, ask them, 'What's the strategy against ISIS? Against [Syrian ruler] Bashar Assad?'"
Co-host Quick referred to the oft-repeated unofficial Obama doctrine of
"don't do stupid stuff."
"Yeah, that's pretty compelling for the world's greatest nation," McCain quipped. "That's really remarkable."
McCain said the Saudis are making a "smooth" transition in rule and cooperative policy toward the United States. What really concerns him, and them, he said, is "the rise of ISIS and, even more, the incursions of Iran into different countries."
McCain reeled off the countries into which Iran has projected itself politically or militarily while the U.S. is fixated on nuclear talks: Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Yemen.
"And so they're worried," he said of the Saudis. "And I am worried, too. Frankly, they perceive a lack of strong American leadership."
McCain reiterated his call for the U.S. to arm the Free Syrian Army rebels against Assad.
"We shouldn't be training young men [Syrian rebels] in Saudi Arabia, as we are, and sending them [back] to Syria to be barrel-bombed by Bashar Assad," he said.
He also said to increase the U.S. military presence on the ground against the Islamic State in both Iraq and Syria with more intelligence operatives, forward air-strike controllers, Special Forces and more.
"We should be understanding that this is one fight" spread across two countries, he said.