Biden to meet Jewish leaders in Florida over Iran nuclear agreement

US Vice President Joe Biden is scheduled to meet with American Jewish leaders in the state of Florida in an effort to win support from an undecided Democratic lawmaker for the Iran nuclear agreement.

Biden will “participate in a discussion organized by Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz to discuss the Iran deal with leaders in the Jewish community,” Biden’s office said in a statement on Thursday.

The meeting next Thursday was requested by Florida Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, the chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee, who has yet to decide a position on the agreement, the Wall Street Journal reported.

“During a meeting on a host of issues the vice president offered to be helpful, and so as the congresswoman continues to review the deal and talk with experts and constituents she invited him to South Florida to meet with key leaders in the community,” said Sean Bartlett, a spokesman for Wasserman Schultz.

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. The US Congress will vote on the agreement in September.

Under the agreement, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, restrictions will be put on Iran’s nuclear activities in exchange for, among other things, the removal of all economic sanctions against the Islamic Republic.

According to Andrew Weinstein, a South Florida lawyer, “The vice president has a long and strong history with the Jewish community, and he is considered to be incredibly well respected by many members of the community.”

He said Biden’s Florida visit will be “an important step” in the White House’s outreach that “will be nothing but helpful.”

Biden’s visit raises speculations that more Democrats would come out in favor of the agreement within days. 27 Senate Democrats and two independents have so far announced support for the agreement.

President Barack Obama needs the support of 34 Senate Democrats to sustain a presidential veto if Congress approves a resolution to reject the agreement.

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