WASHINGTON, Sept. 10 (UPI) — The Senate is set to vote on the resolution of disapproval over the Iran nuclear deal Thursday afternoon after Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., received consent to move it ahead of schedule.
President Barack Obama recently secured the votes needed in the Senate to reject a Republican majority that would disapprove of the Iran nuclear deal. The president no longer needs to veto now that he’s gained enough support in the Senate to block the disapproval resolution.
McConnell said it would be a “tragedy” if Democrats did not allow a final vote on the Iran deal to be carried out.
“What a tragedy it would be then if at the very last moment some of those same senators decided to filibuster to prevent the American people from having a real say on this incredibly important issue,” McConnell said. “I know some of our colleagues are currently under immense pressure to shut down the voice of the people.”
The deadline for Congressional approval of the Iran nuclear agreement is set for Sept. 17, as the deal automatically comes into effect afterward.
The Senate vote on the deal was originally scheduled to take place Friday.
But the agreement between Iran and the United States will seemingly not improve relations, as Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said there will not be further discussions other than on the nuclear negotiation.
Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said he hoped McConnell would accept a deal that would skip procedural votes and move directly to a final vote on the Iran deal, which would require a higher vote threshold.
“The idea that the Democrats are somehow trying to stop debate, keeping us from a final vote is foolish,” Reid said. “So let’s be clear about who is moving to end debate. It’s the Republican leader.”
