She called the accord “the best option available to block Iran from having a nuclear bomb”. Nine more have yet to state a position, and Durbin hopes to gain support from six of them, which means Democrats could block any vote on the deal.
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USA lawmakers had until September 17 to vote on the deal with an expected resolution of disapproval.
The Iran deal will lift economic sanctions on Iran in return for the country submitting to worldwide inspections and promising not to produce weapons-grade nuclear material.
Even if Republicans in the Senate vote on a measure opposing the deal, President Obama can veto their move – and Sen.
“Iran deal done. With Mikulski, Obama has all the votes he needs“.
Gaughan says there is a real chance Iran could breach the agreement but the deal allows the United States to have advanced warning if Iran decides to do so. That would ensure the resolution would never leave the Senate and Obama would not be forced to use a veto. If the House considers a resolution of disapproval similar to the one under discussion among senators, the minority party’s House leader, Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, has vowed her bloc will muster enough votes to sustain any vote on the Iran issue.
Also speaking on Wednesday, just minutes after Senator Mikulski’s announcement, Secretary of State John Kerry reiterated his stance on the agreement.
“Rejecting this agreement would not be sending a signal of resolve to Iran, it would be broadcasting a message so puzzling that most people across the globe would find it impossible to comprehend”, Kerry warned his audience. Given the importance of the agreement, “to have it defeated on a procedural tactic, I think, is unfair and unwise”, Lieberman said.
When the Senate went on recess, Republicans needed four Democratic senators to undo a veto. So far, 226 House members – 210 Republicans and 16 Democrats – have announced their opposition to the nuclear deal, according to the Bipartisan Policy Center.
Seven Senate Democrats remained undecided: Michael Bennet of Colorado, Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, Maria Cantwell of Washington, Ben Cardin of Maryland, Joe Manchin of West Virginia, Gary Peters of Michigan and Ron Wyden of Oregon.
“It establishes historically unprecedented mechanisms to block Iran’s near-term pathway to a nuclear weapon”, Booker said.
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In a statement Wednesday, Republican U.S. Sen.
