With key vote secured, Obama's Iran deal now unstoppable in Congress

Politics

With key vote secured, Obama’s Iran deal now unstoppable in Congress

President Obama secured a landmark foreign policy victory Wednesday as Democrats amassed enough votes to ensure the Iran nuclear deal survives in Congress, despite ferocious opposition from Republicans and Israel’s government. The backing from Democratic Sen. Barbara Mikulski gives supporters of the agreement the crucial 34th vote in the 100-member chamber they need to uphold an Obama veto of a congressional resolution of disapproval if Republicans pass such a measure later this month. And it spells failure for opponents of the international agreement who sought to foil it by turning Congress against it.

Even if Congress passes the disapproval resolution, it can’t stop the deal reached by Iran, the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China. It might help congressionally mandated sanctions remain in place. But the U.N. Security Council endorsed the nuclear deal unanimously in July and outlined how it would lift international sanctions on Iran. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Republican, acknowledged Obama “may be able to sustain a veto with the tepid, restricted and partisan support.” But he said the Senate would move ahead next week with a “serious” debate and that Congress’ bipartisan support would be needed to “strengthen our defenses in the Persian Gulf and to stand up to the inevitable Iranian violations of the agreement.”