Story highlights Former CIA and NSA chief talks with CNN about Iran nuclear deal

Michael Hayden says Congress should try to add some safeguards

Washington (CNN) Former CIA Director Michael Hayden, an influential and vocal critic of the Obama administration's nuclear agreement with Iran, said Wednesday that Congress actually should consider approving the accord -- but only after tacking on a number of conditions designed to pressure Iran not to cheat on the deal, including an authorization for military action.

"Look, in an ideal world, I think the deal is distasteful enough to say no to it," Hayden, who ran the CIA and National Security Agency for President George W. Bush, told CNN in an interview. "But I also realize that to pick up the pieces from that would require really powerful American engagement, and I have no confidence that's going to happen."

Hayden's doubt that the Obama administration would be able to persuade the P5+1 nations that negotiated the deal with Iran -- the United States, UK, Russia, China, France and Germany -- to restart negotiations with Tehran if Congress rejects the deal, led him to think the deal might be worth salvaging -- but only if there is bipartisan consensus to beef it up so Iran knows that the United States will insist it abide by the deal.

"Look, I'm really troubled by the deal. I'm not a fan. But I know how the American political system works," Hayden said about his compromise proposal. "When you actually pass something that the President feels like he needs to sign in return for getting a yes, he also gets some conditionality that the other political branch has insisted on."

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