Iran deal looking safer in Congress
Opponents of the nuclear agreement have so far failed to gain much traction during the summer recess.
President Barack Obama’s landmark nuclear deal with Iran seems increasingly likely to survive a congressional challenge.
Partway through the five-week summer recess, opponents have failed to gain much traction despite spending millions of dollars on ad campaigns targeting on-the-fence lawmakers. As of the morning of Aug. 14, only one Democrat in the Senate and 11 in the House had declared their opposition to the deal, leaving Republicans well short of the two-thirds majority they would need in both chambers to override the president’s veto.
Congress has until Sept. 17 to vote on a resolution of disapproval under bipartisan legislation that passed in May. If lawmakers are successful, the White House would be barred from lifting statutory sanctions against Iran, in violation of the international agreement that was reached between Tehran and six world powers July 14.
Advocates of the deal suffered a series of blows early in the month that sent them reeling.
