US Senate Democratic leader says he will support Iran agreement

US Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid says he will fully back the Iran nuclear agreement, giving the Obama administration another key supporter on Capitol Hill.

"I strongly support the historic agreement and will do everything in my power to ensure that it stands," Reid said on Sunday.

With Reid on board, 27 Senate Democrats have now expressed their intention to vote in favor of the successful conclusion of Iran nuclear talks, and the Senate minority leader is the highest ranking Democrat to make such an announcement.  

President Barack Obama needs 34 votes in the Senate to deny opponents an opportunity to override his possible veto. Now it will be very difficult for Republicans to gain the veto-proof numbers in Congress to scuttle the agreement.

Reid told The Washington Post that he would do everything in his power to make sure that the Republican-dominated Congress doesn’t kill the historic accord.

“This nuclear agreement is consistent with the greatest traditions of American leadership,” Reid said in a separate statement. "I will vote no on the resolution of disapproval and urge my colleagues to do the same.”

Reid said he has decided to support the agreement after “a rigorous process of study and review” and getting briefing from dozens of experts “from across the spectrum.”

“Throughout all of these deliberations, critics of the agreement failed to articulate a viable alternative,” he added. “I see that as one more piece of evidence suggesting that this agreement is the best path forward.”

Iran and the P5+1 group of countries - the US, Britain, France, Russia, China, and Germany – announced the conclusion of nuclear negotiations in the Austrian capital, Vienna, on July 14, following more than two weeks of intensive talks.

The Obama administration is trying to save the nuclear agreement in Congress which is reviewing it and is likely to vote on it in September.

The American-Israeli Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) and other pro-Israel lobbying groups in the US have launched a massive campaign to defeat the historic agreement in Congress.

AIPAC has reportedly deployed about 300 lobbyists on Capitol Hill to try to convince lawmakers to vote against the nuclear agreement.

According to reports, the Israel lobby is spending up to $40 million on television commercials and other propaganda material to inform the public “about the dangers of the proposed Iran deal.”

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk