Former US Lawmakers Urge Congress to Back Iran Nuclear Deal
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Some 75 former members of the US Congress have called on lawmakers to endorse the conclusion of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) reached between Iran and world powers on July 14.
The former lawmakers wrote a letter to the Congress on Monday and warned that the likelihood of a “military confrontation” will be high if the agreement is rejected, Politico reported .
“We appreciate the gravity of your decision and the considerable pressure that you are under as you weigh the merits of this agreement and the costs of failure to implement it,” write the 75 lawmakers.
“Supporting the agreement does not come without risks. But these risks must be considered in the context of the grave risks that would be incurred if you were to reject it,” the letter added.
“We know of no viable alternatives to the (deal) that is now before you,” the former lawmakers write in the letter.
“We agree that no deal is better than a bad deal. But we also agree that a good deal is better than no deal.”
Notable signatories include former Senator Richard Lugar of Indiana, a Republican who has long been active in promoting nuclear non-proliferation, and former Senator George Mitchell of Maine, a Democrat who served as a special envoy to the Middle East.
Rep. Wayne Gilchrest (R-Md.), Rep. Paul Findley (R-Ill.), and Rep. Philip Ruppe (R-Mich.) were also among the other Republicans who signed the letter.
Democrats appear close to having enough support for the deal to bottle up the disapproval measure with procedural motions. If Republicans vote in a united bloc, they would need the support of six Democrats to break a filibuster, but only two Democrats have broken ranks so far.
If the resolution is filibustered, it would be a major victory for the White House, which wouldn’t have to use President Obama’s veto pen to protect the Iran deal.
Iran and the Group 5+1 (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France and Germany- also known as P5+1 or E3+3) finalized the text of lasting deal on Tehran’s nuclear program on July 14.
When Congress returns to Capitol Hill from its August recess after Labor Day, both the House and Senate are expected to vote on resolutions disapproving the July 14 accord.
While it is expected Congress will vote to disapprove the deal, President Obama can veto their disapproval, and Republicans are unlikely to have the votes to override that veto as so far 31 US Democratic Senators have come in favor of the deal.