Sen. Robert Menendez announces opposition to Iran nuclear accord

Democratic US Senator Robert Menendez has announced that he will vote against the Iran nuclear accord in Congress, becoming the second senator from President Barack Obama’s own party to oppose the agreement.

The New Jersey senator blasted the nuclear agreement with Iran on Tuesday, vowing to oppose it in defiance of Obama, who is trying to gather enough support among Democrats to prevent Congress from scuttling the deal.

"I will vote to disapprove the agreement and, if called upon, would vote to override a veto" by the president, Menendez said in a speech at Seton Hall University in South Orange, New Jersey.

Menendez, a strong backer of Israel, has accused Iran of violating a number of UN Security Council resolutions in the past and accused Tehran of trying to weaponize its nuclear program and sponsoring “terrorism.”

A senior White House official said the announcement by Menendez had been expected and would not alter the Obama administration’s strategy.

Menendez, a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has been a leading lawmaker in Congress to impose new sanctions on Iran if nuclear negotiations fail.

The senator was indicted by a federal grand jury on corruption and bribery charges in April. He has pleaded not guilty and vowed to fight the allegations.

Earlier this month, Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, an influential Jewish Democrat, said he would vote against the Iran agreement.

Schumer said he would also work to encourage other senators to oppose it too, highlighting that there are deep divisions within the Democratic Party on the nuclear agreement.

After months of tough negotiations, Iran and the P5+1 group– the US, Britain, Russia, China, France, and Germany –  finally succeeded in finalizing the text of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action in Vienna on July 14.

In accordance with the JCPOA, Iran has been recognized by the United Nations as a nuclear power and will continue with its uranium enrichment program. Some restrictions will be put on Iran’s nuclear activities in exchange for, among other things, the removal of economic and financial bans against the Islamic Republic.

Republicans, who control both houses of Congress, almost unanimously oppose the agreement because they say it gives too many concessions to Iran and threatens the security of Israel, a major US ally in the Middle East.

President Obama has pledged to veto a resolution of disapproval in Congress, and opponents need a two-thirds vote to override his veto. More than half of the Democrats and Independents in the Senate are backing the agreement.

Congress is reviewing the nuclear accord and has until September 17 to vote to either approve or disapprove of it.

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