Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Supporters of the Iran nuclear deal now have enough votes in the Senate to make sure the deal survives a challenge from Republicans.
The 34 votes are enough to uphold a presidential veto of a resolution of disapproval.
Democratic Sen. Barbara Mikulski of Maryland today became the 34th vote in favor of the agreement. She calls it "the best option available to block Iran from having a nuclear bomb."
With opposition to the agreement failing to take hold on the Democratic side, supporters may even be able to muster the 41 votes needed to block the disapproval resolution from passing in the first place.
There's no reaction yet from the Israeli government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has lobbied U.S. lawmakers to block the nuclear pact.
Secretary of State John Kerry, in a speech in Philadelphia today, has been making the case that the agreement makes the U.S. and its allies safer. He earlier told MSNBC that "the fastest way to a genuine arms race in the Middle East is not to have this agreement."
%@AP Links
180-c-22-(Jerry Bodlander, AP correspondent)-"foreign policy victory"-AP correspondent Jerry Bodlander reports the Iran nuclear deal now has enough Democratic support in the Senate to overcome a GOP challenge. (2 Sep 2015)
<<CUT *180 (09/02/15)££ 00:22 "foreign policy victory"
179-v-35-(Jerry Bodlander, AP correspondent)--The Iran nuclear agreement now has enough support in the Senate to withstand a GOP challenge. AP correspondent Jerry Bodlander reports. (2 Sep 2015)
<<CUT *179 (09/02/15)££ 00:35
APPHOTO WX201: FILE - In this March 2, 2015 file photo, Sen. Barbara Mikulski, D-Md., the longest-serving woman in the history of Congress, speaks during a news conference in Baltimore. Senate Democrats have rallied the 34 votes they need to keep the Iran nuclear deal alive in Congress, handing President Barack Obama a major foreign policy victory. Mikulski became the crucial 34th vote Wednesday morning, declaring the agreement is the best way to curb Iran's nuclear ambitions. (AP Photo/Steve Ruark) (2 Mar 2015)
<<APPHOTO WX201 (03/02/15)££
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
