Michigan Democrat senator announces support for Iran deal

Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., declared Monday that she will support the Iran nuclear deal, joining a recent stream of Democrats to back the agreement.

“I have determined that the imminent threat of Iran having a nuclear weapon outweighs any flaws I see in the international agreement. For this reason, I must support the agreement,” Stabenow said in a statement.

She termed the Islamic Republic a “dangerous regime” that funnels money and weapons to Hezbollah, and kidnaps Americans.

“The only thing worse than Iran being the largest state sponsor of terrorism would be Iran as the largest state sponsor of terrorism with a nuclear weapon. That’s why getting this right is essential for the security of America, Israel and the entire Middle East,” she stated.

With Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid also on board, the nuclear agreement between Iran and six world powers seems to be picking up the momentum it needs to weather fierce opposition in Congress from its Republican opponents.

Reid on Sunday became the 27th and most powerful Senate Democrat to throw his support behind the president and the nuclear deal, which could open the door for some of his non-committed colleagues to come aboard.

“I strongly support the historic agreement and will do everything in my power to ensure that it stands,” Reid, D-Nev. said in a news release. Reid said he worked to ensure that “America holds up our end of the commitment we have made to our allies and the world to prevent a nuclear-armed Iran.”

Congress plans to vote on a resolution of disapproval of the deal struck by the United States, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany with Iran. Even if the resolution passes, President Barack Obama plans to veto it and it would take a two-thirds majority to override it, a margin that he would be unlikely to achieve.

Having Reid on the president’s side will make it difficult for opponents to muster the needed support in the Senate from Democrats. In the Senate, only two Democrats — Chuck Schumer of New York and Robert Menendez of New Jersey — have announced opposition to the deal.

Reid’s support for the deal comes as Obama is set to head to Nevada Monday for an energy summit sponsored in part by Reid.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi has already said House Democratic supporters have the votes necessary to sustain Obama’s veto, despite unanimous GOP opposition.

Republicans and the Israeli government furiously oppose the deal, which seeks to keep Iran from building a nuclear bomb in exchange for billions in international sanctions relief. They say the agreement makes too many concessions to Iran and could actually enable that country to become a nuclear-armed state.