Cory Booker Announces Support For Iran Nuclear Deal
WASHINGTON (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey is the latest Democrat to announce his support for the Iran nuclear deal.
He's siding with President Barack Obama despite home-state pressures to say no.
Booker said in a statement that the deal is flawed, but the alternative is worse.
Booker said he made his decision after studying the deal, consulting with experts on both sides and former and current White House leadership and sitting in on classified briefings.
"After hours and hours of study, research, deliberation and consultation, I am more convinced than ever that eliminating the threat of a nuclear-armed Iran is among the most important global security challenges of our time," Booker said. "Allowing Iran to obtain a nuclear weapon would pose an unacceptable and grave threat to the safety of our allies, to Middle East stability, and to American security."
On Wednesday, Senate Democrats clinched the needed votes to uphold Obama's veto, if necessary, of a resolution of disapproval that Republicans are trying to pass this month.
Sens. Mark Warner of Virginia and Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota also announced their support for the deal, bringing the number of Democratic or independent senators to 37.
Supporters are aiming to collect 41 votes in favor, which would allow them to block a final vote on the disapproval resolution in the Senate and save Obama from exercising his veto power.
The agreement negotiated by the U.S. and other world powers aims to curb Iran's nuclear program in exchange for relief from economic sanctions.
Booker had been closely watched because of pressures from New Jersey's Jewish community to oppose the deal. Also, New Jersey's other Democratic senator, Bob Menendez, opposes the deal.
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