GOP Senator: Iran Nuclear Deal Very Likely to Prevail
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The chairman of the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations conceded that the July 14 nuclear agreement between Iran and world powers is gathering momentum, saying he has his doubts if opponents of the accord can block it.
"I don't think there's any question but the lobbying effort by the administration certainly has generated results, and I have no idea what the final vote is going to be but certainly they've picked up some support on the Democratic side," Senator Bob Corker of Tennessee told AP in a phone interview on Tuesday.
As for whether Republicans who control Congress and unanimously oppose the agreement could thwart such tactics, Corker said, "I don't know, I don't know."
Also on Tuesday, US Democratic Senator Patty Murray defended the conclusion of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) between Iran and world powers.
“After working my way through the details and the alternatives, losing a lot of sleep, and having a lot of good conversations with so many people, I am convinced that moving forward with this deal is the best chance we have at a strong diplomatic solution,” Washington Senator Murray said.
Murray is the 29th Senate Democrat to come out in favor of the agreement. Just two Senate Democrats have said they will oppose the accord in Congress — Senator Chuck Schumer of New York and Senator Robert Menendez of New Jersey.
Iran and the Group 5+1 (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France and Germany- also known as P5+1 or E3+3) finalized the text of lasting deal on Tehran’s nuclear program on July 14.
While the United Nations Security Council has adopted a resolution to endorse the deal, the text of the document needs to be reviewed by both Iran’s Parliament and the US Congress.
US President Barack Obama has promised a swift veto in the event of a Congressional rejection of the agreement in September. US lawmakers would then have to find enough votes to override the president.
