Clinton was speaking after 47 Senate Republicans, including several potential 2016 presidential candidates, made the unprecedented move of directly and publicly addressing Iran’s leaders.

Former U.S. secretary of state and probable presidential challenger Hillary Clinton condemned Tuesday a bid by Republican senators to disrupt nuclear talks with Iran.

“Either these senators were trying to be helpful to the Iranians or harmful to the commander-in-chief in the midst of high stakes, international diplomacy,” Clinton said.

“Either answer does discredit to the letters’ signatories.”

Clinton was speaking after 47 Senate Republicans, including several potential 2016 presidential candidates, made the unprecedented move of directly and publicly addressing Iran’s leaders in a bid to scupper talks between Western powers and the Islamic Republic over the country’s disputed nuclear program.

Republicans warned in the letter that any deal agreed before President Barack Obama leaves office in 2017 is “nothing more than an executive agreement” which could be struck down by Congress at a later date.

The White House has also strongly condemned the letter, while Vice President Joe Biden branded it “dangerous.”

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