US president Barack Obama has secured the backing of 34 US senators for the Iran nuclear deal, giving him enough votes to pass the agreement through Congress. The 34th, pivotal vote belongs to senator Barbara Mikulski, a Democrat from Maryland.
“No deal is perfect, especially one negotiated with the Iranian regime,” Mikulski said in a statement. But, she said, “I have concluded that this Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action is the best option available to block Iran from having a nuclear bomb.”
The deal, signed by Iran and six world powers that agreed to lift international sanctions in exchange for Iran curbing its nuclear program, faces opposition from Republican lawmakers, some Democrats, and US allies in Israel. But Mikulski’s support for it means that Congress wouldn’t have enough votes to override a veto by Obama against a potential Congressional resolution opposing passage of the deal.