nuclear-news

USA Republicans fail in the Senate to kill the Iran nuclear deal

US Senate Democrats block effort by Republicans to kill Iran nuclear deal, ABC Nws 11 Sept 15  US president Barack Obama has achieved perhaps the greatest foreign policy victory of his six years in office, with a Republican-backed effort to kill the Iran nuclear agreement being narrowly blocked in the US Senate.

Forty Democrats and two independents voted to block a resolution disapproving of the pact in the 100-member chamber, one more than the minimum needed to keep it from advancing.

“This vote is a victory for diplomacy, for American national security, and for the safety and security of the world,” Mr Obama said in a statement after a vote he termed “an historic step forward”.

But Senate Republicans insisted the fight w was not over……….

Under a law Mr Obama signed in May, Congress has until September 17 to pass a resolution disapproving of the international agreement.

If such a resolution were to pass, and survive Mr Obama’s promised veto, it would bar the president from waiving many US sanctions on Tehran, a key component of the nuclear deal.

But there was no sign any votes would change, and Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid bluntly responded: “This matter is over with.”……….The defeat came despite an intense $US40 million lobbying campaign against the agreement, largely by conservative pro-Israel groups. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-09-11/attempt-to-kill-iran-nuclear-agreement-narrowly-blocked/6768560

September 12, 2015 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | politics, USA