Merkley becomes 31st senator to announce support for Iran nuclear deal
Senator Jeff Merkley has become the 31st US senator to come out in favor of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) that was reached on Iran’s nuclear program last month.
Merkley said that while he thinks the JCPOA has “significant shortcomings,” it is still the best strategy to ensure that Iran’s nuclear program is civil in nature and will have no military uses.
“Because of these shortcomings, many have argued that the United States, instead of implementing the agreement, should withdraw from it, persuade our partners to set the agreement aside and work together to negotiate a better deal,” the Democrat said in a statement on Sunday.
“However, the prospects for this are slim. All of our partners … believe that the current deal – in regard to its central goal of blocking Iran’s pathways to a nuclear bomb – is sound,” he added.
“They have committed the good faith of their governments behind the agreement and intend to honor the deal as long as Iran does likewise, with or without the United States.”
With the Oregon politician’s backing, the supporters of a nuclear agreement with Iran are now within reach of the 34 votes they need to uphold a presidential veto, in case of a turndown of the deal by Congress.
Republicans, alongside with a few prominent Senate Democrats, have opposed the agreement.
However, President Barack Obama is confident that “this deal will go forward.”
Lawmakers are expected to vote on a resolution of disapproval on the accord in mid-September.
Arrest and harassment: US intensifies crackdown on pro-Gaza protests in universities
US Senate reauthorizes surveillance bill despite privacy concerns
US vetoes Palestinian request for full UN membership
VIDEO | UK govt. Rwanda bill denounced as 'state-sponsored people trafficking'
VIDEO | Iran president visits Lahore, Pakistan’s cultural hub
North Korea: US military drills drive regional security into turmoil
UN agency chief for Palestinians urges probe into staff killings
200 days of Israeli war on Gaza and 200 headlines whitewashing genocide
VIDEO | 200 days of US-Israeli genocide
Iran’s security chief in Russia to underline Israel’s aggression
VIDEO | Smoke rises from Gaza as fighting continues
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
