Schumer Says He Opposes Iran Deal

Though Schumer’s announcement that he would vote in disapproval of the nuclear deal – which leaked mysteriously during the middle of the Republican debate on Thursday – is unlikely to derail the process, it represents an embarrassing rift with a senior Democrat who had once been one of Barack Obama’s staunchest allies.

The deal, struck last month with Tehran and Western powers, would curb Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for billions of dollars in relief from crippling sanctions.

Schumer issued a three-page statement saying in part, “There are serious weaknesses in the agreement“.

Others who say they are still evaluating the agreement include Senators Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, Mark Warner of Virginia, Chris Coons of Delaware, Debbie Stabenow of Michigan, Gary Peters of Michigan, Joe Donnelly of Indiana, Jon Tester of Montana, Claire McCaskill of Missouri and Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota.

A handful of House Democrats in addition to Engel have said they oppose the deal, including Representative Steve Israel, a member of the chamber’s Democratic leadership.

Sanders, who was raised Jewish and spent time living on an Israeli kibbutz after college, said the United States must make certain that Iran doesn’t get a nuclear weapon, that Israel isn’t threatened by a nuclear Iran and that a nuclear arms race in the region is avoided.

Earnest also distinguished Schumer’s opposition from that of Republicans, which it says is “ideologically driven” and “making common cause with hardliners in Iran“.

He said U.S. policymakers should also be concerned with Iran’s aggressive behavior in Syria, and the activities of its armed proxy groups.

Congress is expected to vote on the deal in September.

Obama spokesman Josh Earnest said the White House was “not particularly” concerned that the decision by Schumer, the third-ranking Senate Democrat, would encourage more opposition.

Of course, that hasn’t allayed the anger of the Obama administration, which has whipped the deal as furiously as you’d expect for a foreign policy pact immediately dubbed historic. Chuck Shumer – the leading Jewish Democrat in the Senate – said he would not be able to give the White House his support on the Joint Comprehensive Plan Of Action, as the agreement is formally known.

Schumer signaled that he wouldnt lobby hard against the accord. For the deal to remain in place the administration would need 34 Senators to support a veto of the disapproval legislation.

“I won’t let party pressure politics interfere with doing what I think is right“, said Schumer.

“Sen. Schumer’s opposition to the agreement sends a signal to every pro-Israel Democrat in Washington that they don’t have to “walk the plank” for President Obama – they can stand for peace and reject this bad deal”. New York is home to more than a million-and-a-half Jews.

Israel’s prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu has been pushing members of congress to oppose the nuclear agreement, which he considers a threat to his country’s survival. Opponents of the pact have targeted Schumer in campaign-style ads.