In a major breakthrough, US President Barack Obama has finally succeeded in mustering the requisite Democratic support to neutralise the Republicans’ plan to scuttle the landmark Iran Nuclear deal in US Congress.
Although the Republicans control both chambers, they do not enjoy a two-thirds majority in the Senate that will be needed in the final analysis to block Obama’s push to safeguard the deal.
With several Democrats also strongly objecting to the deal, Obama was faced with a tricky situation. By Wednesday, however, he succeeded in getting pledges of support from 34 of the 44 Democrats in the 100-member Senate.
Senator Barbara Mikulski from Maryland became the 34th Democratic Senator to come to Obama’s rescue on Wednesday. The Republicans, who are otherwise in majority with 56 Senators, will not be able now to override a presidential veto that can be defeated only by a two-thirds majority.
Before Mikulski communicated her support, two other Democratic Senators had come round (Bob Casey of Pennsylvania and Chris Coons of Delaware), brightening the prospects of securing the deal with Iran that was negotiated by the US along with five other world powers — Britain, France, China, Russia and Germany.
“No deal is perfect, especially one negotiated with the Iranian regime,” Senator Mikulski said, but noted: “I have concluded that this Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action is the best option available to block Iran from having a nuclear bomb. For these reasons, I will vote in favour of this deal. However, Congress must also reaffirm our commitment to the safety and security of Israel.”
Expressing the view that unilateral sanctions by the US may just not work, she noted: “It’s unclear if the European Union, Russia, China, India and others would continue sanctions if Congress rejects this deal. At best, sanctions would be porous, or limited to unilateral sanctions by the US.”
The Republican National Committee (RNC) came down hard on the Congressional Democrats for their pledges of support that will enable President Obama to “sustain a veto of legislation blocking the Clinton-Obama Iran deal”.
“By protecting the Clinton-Obama Iran deal and its secret side agreements, Democrats have reaffirmed their status as a party that cannot be trusted to keep America safe,” RNC Chairman Reince Priebus said in a statement, adding the Iran deal “not only falls short of the (Obama) Administration’s own goals, it empowers the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism while never ultimately blocking Iran’s path to a nuclear weapon.”