Delaware Democrat senator joins Iran deal supporters

US Democratic Senator Tom Carper of Delaware declared Thursday that he will support the Iran nuclear deal, joining a recent stream of fellow party members to back the agreement.

“The deal provides Iran an opportunity to rebuild its economy and shed the pariah status it’s borne for decades,” Carper wrote in an op-ed piece published by The News Journal.

Carper acknowledged criticisms made by the deal’s opponents, who say the nuclear accord signed between Iran and world powers last month makes too many concessions to the Islamic Republic and could still enable it to become a nuclear-armed state.

“I still have serious doubts about their government. So does the Obama administration, for that matter. That’s why this deal is based on mistrust. If some future Iranian regime decides to violate the agreement, we’ll know it,” Carper wrote.

Delaware’s other lawmakers, Senator Chris Coons and Representative John Carney — both Democrats — have yet to announce their position on the deal. According to The News Journal report, Coons is expected to announce his position on Tuesday.

With Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid lending his support for the agreement earlier this week, the agreement appears to be picking up the momentum it needs to weather fierce opposition in Congress from its mostly Republican opponents.

Reid’s support of US President Barack Obama could open the door for some of his undecided colleagues to come to also sign on the agreement, which is designed to curb Iran’s disputed nuclear program.

Congress will vote next month on a resolution of disapproval of the deal struck July 14 by the United States, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany with Iran. Even if the resolution passes, the president plans to veto it and it would take a two-thirds majority to override it, a margin that his opponents would be unlikely to achieve.

On Wednesday, nearly 200 retired US generals, admirals and former Washington officials came out strongly against the accord, and called on Congress to sink deal.

“The agreement will enable Iran to become far more dangerous, render the Mideast still more unstable and introduce new threats to American interests as well as our allies,” the letter addressed to Republican and Democratic senators and congressmen stated.

The letter by top former career officers from every branch of the US military, as well as officials who served in the White House under both Democratic and Republican administrations, spoke out against the deal in response to a similar petition signed by 36 retired US generals who backed the agreement earlier this month.

Congress has witnessed a flurry of petitions and letters from numerous groups and individuals — including rabbis and nuclear scientists — urging them to either back or sink the deal.

In the Senate, only two Democrats — Chuck Schumer of New York and Robert Menendez of New Jersey — have announced opposition to the deal. Last week New York Congressman Jerrold Nadler said that he backed the agreement, “as an American Jew who is both a Democrat and a strong supporter of Israel.”

Republican party lawmakers have announced that they will unanimously vote against the deal, meaning that lobbying efforts are largely aimed at undecided Democratic Party legislators.

Avi Lewis and AP contributed to this report