The Hill – July 15, 2015 – Vice President Biden stormed the Capitol Wednesday to pitch the Obama administration’s Iranian nuclear deal to House Democrats, who could be lining up behind the agreement.
GOP leaders have panned the agreement as a giveaway to the Iranians that will threaten the security of Israel and the West.
Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) warned the pact would lead to a new nuclear arms race in the Middle East. Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.), the majority whip, vowed to sink the deal within Congress’s 60-day window to act.
Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-Texas) emphasized that many concerns remain — “there’s a lot of questions that need to be resolved,” he said — but added, “I’m inclined to support it.”
The Democrats said Biden went deep into the weeds to address a long list of specific policy concerns, including questions about the spontaneity of Iranian nuclear inspections, the timeline for lifting sanctions and the details surrounding Iran’s new freedoms to sell weapons abroad if it meets its nuclear promises.
The support from House Democrats is hardly unanimous. Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Calif.) is one vocal critic of the deal, saying it doesn’t do enough to prevent Iran from building a weapon a decade from now.
“In 10 years — some would argue 12 — Iran will be able to have an industrial-sized facility,” Sherman said. “The amount of enriched uranium needed to make a bomb is a tiny portion of what is generated in a peaceful, or an allegedly peaceful, plant that generates enough fuel to illuminate a city.”
But even Sherman was quick to distinguish between the various possible iterations of an Iran vote on the floor, clarifying that while he would oppose a straight vote of approval for the deal — if one were to come up — he remains undecided on votes to disapprove the agreement or override a presidential veto.
“Those are three different votes,” Sherman said.
Still, other Democrats remain on the fence. Reps. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.) said they’re still weighing their support.
“It’s not just a matter of studying the document, it’s really having a chance to talk to experts about how these provisions will be interpreted and applied as a practical matter,” Schiff said.
He said a major concern among Democrats is a provision lifting the embargo on Iranian weapon sales abroad.
“I think it took many people by surprise,” Schiff said, “and as a non-nuclear sanction we would have liked to have seen that maintained in force.”
Lowey also voiced strong concerns, suggesting she wants clear assurances that Iran couldn’t use the proceeds of expanded trade to fund terrorist groups.
“I know how hard Secretary [John] Kerry worked and I certainly respect his expertise and that of the vice president,” she said. “However, I am concerned about the impact, especially about the ballistic missile sales and the armament sales and what Iran would do flush with money when the sanctions are lifted.”