Obama closer to veto-proof support for Iran pact
WASHINGTON — Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., said he will vote to support the Iran nuclear deal, a pledge that puts President Barack Obama only three votes short of protecting the pact in Congress.
Mr. Merkley issued a statement Sunday calling the accord “the best available strategy to block Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.”
His support brings to 31 the number of senators publicly favoring the deal, which would ease economic sanctions on Iran in exchange for curbs on the country’s nuclear program.
Barring defections, Mr. Obama needs three more votes from 13 Senate Democrats who have yet to declare their position, to sustain a likely veto of legislation aimed at killing the pact.
If Mr. Obama can assemble 41 Senate votes by getting most of the remaining Democrats on board, the Senate may not vote on the agreement at all.
The Republican-controlled Congress has until Sept. 17 to pass a resolution disapproving the deal reached in July between six world powers and Iran.
When Congress returns on Sept. 8 from its August recess, debate will begin on a Republican-sponsored “resolution of disapproval” against the deal.
In the Senate, Republicans must gather 60 votes to move the resolution forward under Senate procedural rules. It is seen as likely to pass, because Republicans control a majority of Senate seats and most have already come out against the agreement.
There is no similar procedural barrier in the House. The resolution is expected to easily win approval there. Republicans hold 246 seats in the 435-seat House.
If both chambers approve the resolution, it would go to Mr. Obama’s desk for review.
The president has pledged to veto that resolution if it gets to his desk.
While Republicans have been united in opposing the deal, only two Democratic senators — Charles Schumer of New York, the thirdranking Democrat in the chamber, and Robert Menendez of New Jersey — have joined them so far.
The only uncertain Senate Republican vote is that of Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, who remains undecided and is expected to make her decision after next Monday.
Mr. Merkley, in a statement on his website, pledged to vote for the deal even while pointing to “significant shortcomings” that he said the U.S. must address with “a massive intelligence program” and monitoring.
He said he was troubled that the deal allows Iran to import conventional arms after five years and ballistic missile technology after eight years, and sets no restrictions on how Iran can use money it reclaims when sanctions are lifted.