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Obama secures enough support from senators for Iran deal | Obama secures enough support from senators for Iran deal |
(about 1 hour later) | |
US President Barack Obama has secured enough support in the US Senate to ensure that the Iran nuclear deal will go into effect. | US President Barack Obama has secured enough support in the US Senate to ensure that the Iran nuclear deal will go into effect. |
Democrat Barbara Mikulski of Maryland became the 34th senator to back the deal on Wednesday. | Democrat Barbara Mikulski of Maryland became the 34th senator to back the deal on Wednesday. |
US Congress could still oppose the deal, but Mr Obama has now enough votes to override any resolution of disapproval. | US Congress could still oppose the deal, but Mr Obama has now enough votes to override any resolution of disapproval. |
He has said the deal cuts off "every pathway to a nuclear weapon" for Iran. | He has said the deal cuts off "every pathway to a nuclear weapon" for Iran. |
"No deal is perfect, especially one negotiated with the Iranian regime," sad Ms Mikulski in a statement. "I have concluded that this Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action is the best option available to block Iran from having a nuclear bomb." | "No deal is perfect, especially one negotiated with the Iranian regime," sad Ms Mikulski in a statement. "I have concluded that this Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action is the best option available to block Iran from having a nuclear bomb." |
Republicans have been unified in their opposition to the Iran accord, saying the deal would only "embolden" Iran. | Republicans have been unified in their opposition to the Iran accord, saying the deal would only "embolden" Iran. |
Two Democratic senators - Chuck Schumer of New York and Robert Menendez of New Jersey -- are also opposed, as are a handful of Democrats in the House. | Two Democratic senators - Chuck Schumer of New York and Robert Menendez of New Jersey -- are also opposed, as are a handful of Democrats in the House. |
Congress is set to vote on the accord later this month, but the White House is hopeful it can secure seven additional votes to allow for a legislative move known as a filibuster. | Congress is set to vote on the accord later this month, but the White House is hopeful it can secure seven additional votes to allow for a legislative move known as a filibuster. |
A filibuster would prevent a final vote and Mr Obama would not need to use his veto power to keep the Iran deal on track. | A filibuster would prevent a final vote and Mr Obama would not need to use his veto power to keep the Iran deal on track. |
Analysis: Barbara Plett Usher, BBC News, Washington | |
President Obama has secured only the minimum number of votes needed to ensure that Congress can't ultimately block the Iran deal. | |
So the administration will be trying to broaden that support amongst Congressional Democrats to strengthen the domestic credibility of the agreement, especially as Republican lawmakers and pro-Israel groups will continue to rally opposition. | |
The presidential election campaign will also provide a continuous platform for Republican candidates who oppose the deal. But either way it will be implemented - probably beginning sometime next month - creating a momentum of its own. | |
And there's no doubt this is a major foreign policy achievement for Mr Obama. He's managed to negotiate a diplomatic agreement with America's avowed enemy. Internationally, it means that Iran will be brought in from the cold, which will change the dynamics of the Middle East - for good or ill. | |
Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly spoken out against the deal, calling it a "bad mistake" and that it provides a "sure path to nuclear weapons". | Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly spoken out against the deal, calling it a "bad mistake" and that it provides a "sure path to nuclear weapons". |
Activists on both sides have spent millions of dollars on advertising campaigns and pro-Israeli lobbying groups have put pressure on lawmakers to not support the deal. | Activists on both sides have spent millions of dollars on advertising campaigns and pro-Israeli lobbying groups have put pressure on lawmakers to not support the deal. |
Negotiations between Iran and six world powers - the US, UK, France, China, Russia and Germany - began in 2006. | Negotiations between Iran and six world powers - the US, UK, France, China, Russia and Germany - began in 2006. |
The deal, reached in July, would begin to be implemented by November. | The deal, reached in July, would begin to be implemented by November. |
The so-called P5+1 want Iran to scale back its sensitive nuclear activities to ensure that it cannot build a nuclear weapon. | The so-called P5+1 want Iran to scale back its sensitive nuclear activities to ensure that it cannot build a nuclear weapon. |
Iran, which wants crippling international sanctions lifted, has always insisted that its nuclear work is peaceful. | Iran, which wants crippling international sanctions lifted, has always insisted that its nuclear work is peaceful. |