Al: Back Bam on Iran pact
THE REV. Al Sharpton jumped into the international debate surrounding the Iran nuclear deal Saturday, pledging to rally support for the controversial pact.
During his weekly rally at National Action Network headquarters in Harlem, Sharpton urged New York’s congressional delegation to back President Obama and asked black ministers to put pressure on local members of Congress — specifically New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker and New York Reps. Hakeem Jeffries, Yvette Clarke and Greg Meeks — to vote yes.
“We are in the middle of some very serious and historic crossroads,” Sharpton said. “Today is about saying to the congressmen and senators of New York and New Jersey: Don’t vote against your constituents no matter the pressure.”
The call countered longtime Sharpton ally Sen. Chuck Schumer, who announced his opposition to the deal last week.
The House and Senate will begin debating a resolution of disapproval Sept. 8.
Iran’s parliament and the Supreme National Security Council will consider the agreement, which limits the country’s nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions, in the coming days.
It’s unclear how the accord will fair since the country’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has yet to weigh in on the deal.
On Saturday, Iran gave documents to the UN nuclear agency that is probing allegations that Tehran tried to develop nuclear weapons. The handover met a key deadline set as part of the deal. A prominent Iranian hard-liner with ties to the Ayatollah claimed Saturday that Khamenei opposes the pact forged with the U.S. and other world powers. Khamenei, who has final say on all state matters, remains leery, according to an editorial written in an Iranian newspaper by Hossein Shariatmadari.
Shariatmadari said many parts of the deal threaten Iran’s independence, security and “the sacred system of the Islamic republic of Iran” and that it would be “disastrous” if Tehran implements the accord.
Today is about saying to congressmen and senators of New York and New Jersey: Don’t vote against your constituents. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei