US Senate clears way for Iran nuclear deal

A Democratic minority in the US Senate staved off a united Republican effort to sink the Iran nuclear deal Thursday, edging President Barack Obama closer to a major foreign policy victory.

But the parliamentary riposte by Democrats is only a temporary victory as Republicans vow to keep fighting.

"The Senate has spoken with a clarion voice and declared that the historic agreement to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon will stand," Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid said after the Republican motion failed by two votes shy of the 60 needed to advance in the 100-member Senate.

Senator Mitch McConnell, the Senate Republican leader, immediately took steps to push for another vote.

This comes as the Republican-controlled House vows to impede the landmark agreement signed by the US, Iran and P5+1 (the veto-wielding members of the UN Security Council plus Germany).

"This debate is far from over, and frankly, it's just beginning," said House Speaker John Boehner, a Republican. "This is a bad deal with decades-long consequences for the security of the American people and our allies. And we'll use every tool at our disposal to stop, slow, and delay this agreement."

But in reality the House's power to stop the deal is doubtful; it can at best delay ratification.

All 42 of the Senate votes not to advance the measure were from Democrats or independents who normally vote with them. Four Democratic senators sided with Republicans.

Congress had passed legislation that gave it 60 days to review the July accord, which is set to expire September 17, which the White House says it looks forward to.

"That will be good news, and it will mean that the international community can move forward with implementing the agreement," White House spokesman Josh Earnest said Thursday.

Critical Republicans argue that the deal does not do away with Iran's nuclear program altogether, that it fails to provide for spot inspections of nuclear sites, and that it does not force Iran to end support for militant groups at odds with Israel.

Obama: 'A victory for diplomacy'

From next week, the Obama administration will be free to start scaling back US sanctions against Iran. The accord aims to constrain Iran's nuclear ambitions in exchange for hundreds of billions of dollars in relief from international sanctions.

"This vote is a victory for diplomacy, for American national security and for the safety and security of the world," the US president said in a statement. "Going forward, we will turn to the critical work of implementing and verifying this deal so that Iran cannot pursue a nuclear weapon."

jar/bw(AP, AFP, Reuters)