42 Democrats Now Back Iran Nuclear Deal: Report
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Four undecided US Democrats have come out in favor of the Iran nuclear agreement, bringing the total number of Democratic votes to 42, media reports said.
Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, Maria Cantwell of Washington, Gary Peters of Michigan and Ron Wyden of Oregon announced on Tuesday that they would endorse the accord, New York Times reported.
Cantwell was the last undecided Democratic senator who announced her position to reporters, standing in a basement corridor of the Capitol.
“I’m for the deal,” she said, adding that her office would soon issue a formal statement.
Now the White House has enough votes to prevent a Senate resolution of disapproval against the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) reached between Iran and six world powers on July 14 in the Austrian city of Vienna.
The four Democrats who are against the agreement are Chuck Schumer of New York, Ben Cardin of Maryland, Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Bob Menendez of New Jersey.
The Democratic senators released their statements of support after Senator Joe Manchin, announced that he will be the fourth Democrat who will vote against the accord.
American lawmakers began on Tuesday the process of reviewing the nuclear agreement between Iran and six world powers.
If the Republican bill is not filibustered by the Democrats, US President Barack Obama will be forced to use his veto pen against the resolution disapproving of the agreement.
Congress has until September 17 to vote on the nuclear agreement. A Democratic filibuster in the Senate would be a clear victory for Obama to nip the process in the bud and prevent a chance for the lobbying to kick into high gear.
