Jewish senator becomes latest backer of Iran deal

Hawaii Jewish Senator Brian Schatz on Monday became the latest Democrat to announce his support for the Iran nuclear deal.

“There is no other alternative that achieves these results,” Schatz said of the controversial agreement.

“Iran must never be allowed to have a nuclear weapon, and that is why I support this agreement,” he said. “This agreement should not be compared to an imaginary deal where Iran rolled over and eliminated all its centrifuges and all peaceful nuclear energy generation. That was never seriously on the table,” he said.

So far, only 34 House members, all Democrats, have announced support, along with 17 Democratic senators. Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar also said she would back the accord on Monday.

Reuters noted that Schatz had been expected to come out in support of President Barack Obama in the battle over the deal in Washington, but his announcement was noteworthy due to leading Jewish Senator Chuck Schumer’s statement last week that he would oppose it.

It takes a two-thirds vote of the 435 House members and 100 senators to override a presidential veto.

Lawmakers have left Washington for their annual congressional recess, and Obama is on the island of Martha’s Vineyard off Massachusetts for his family vacation.