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A top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee says the Obama administration is clinging to a preposterous argument if it thinks Iranian leaders can be trusted to stick by the weapons-barring rules of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation treaty after economic sanctions on Iran are lifted.

Rep. Brad Sherman made the charge during a committee hearing Thursday after a top administration official asserted that the nuclear deal being sought with the Islamic Republic will ultimately be insured by Tehrans long-term agreement to abide by the treaty after meeting other demands from Washington and other world powers.

The bottom line is is that even after certain obligations are completed by Iran, it cannot become a nuclear weapons state, Deputy Secretary of State Tony Blinken told the committee. It will be legally bound under the Non-Proliferation Treaty not to make or acquire a nuclear weapon.

Mr. Sherman, the second ranking Democrat on the committee, pounced on the claim wondering aloud whether Mr. Blinken was actively trying to delude the committee by maintaining that Iran wont try to clandestinely sneak-out and develop nuclear weapons regardless of the treaty agreement.

I fear that you have misled this committee in telling us that, once Iran has the rights of a non-nuclear state, subject to the additional protocol, that youll be able to stop sneak-out, because youve said first that, well, they cant develop a nuclear weapon because that would be illegal, the California Democrat said. Thats a preposterous argument.

Obviously, theyre willing to break the law, Mr. Sherman added, asserting that Iranian leaders have repeatedly violated past U.N. mandates and international demands not to develop a nuclear weapon.

In response, Mr. Blinken, who previously served as President Obamas deputy national security adviser, stood by his comments, claiming that there will be future punishment exacted on Iran if attempts to pursue a nuclear weapon after signing the non-proliferation treaty.

If Iran makes an agreement, it will make it with the full knowledge that if it violates the agreement, there will be severe consequences, he said.

A staffer for Mr. Sherman told The Washington Times after the hearing that the congressman does not stand in opposition to the administrations pursuit of negotiations with Iran or even a possible nuclear deal. Mr. Sherman only believes one part of the deal may have flawed logic; he does not believe the entire deal is preposterous, the staffer said.

The exchange on Capitol Hill came as The Associated Press reported Thursday that a draft nuclear accord now being negotiated between the Obama administration and Iran would force the Islamic Republic to cut hardware it could use to make an atomic bomb by about 40 percent for at least a decade, while offering the Iranians immediate relief from sanctions that have crippled their economy.

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Obama clings to 'preposterous argument' on Iran: Democratic Rep. Brad Sherman