The Obama administration is confronting a tougher than expected fight with Congress over the Iran nuclear agreement and is scrambling to muster enough votes to ensure it survives, U.S. officials said.
White House officials are increasingly finding themselves on the defensive against criticism from Republicans and some Democrats, as well as vehement opposition from Israel, according to three officials, who all spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal political deliberations.
That battle will continue through the congressional recess in August. One of the officials said the administration is bracing for an all-out effort in the home districts of lawmakers by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, the leading pro-Israel lobbying group, to press for rejection of the deal.
Congress has until September to review the accord struck by the U.S. and five other world powers with Iran on July 14. If lawmakers pass a resolution of disapproval — the likely outcome in the Republican-controlled House and Senate — President Barack Obama can veto it. Administration officials are counting on having enough Democrats backing the president to sustain a veto, which would stand unless two-thirds of Congress voted to override it.
Military Options
Defense Secretary Ashton Carter told the Senate Armed Services Committee Wednesday that the U.S. retains all its military options in dealing with Iran under the deal.
Secretary of State John Kerry, Treasury Secretary Jacob J. Lew and Energy Secretary Earnest Moniz also have testified before congressional panels.
The White House sought to project assurance in public.
No Odds
At the same time, Schultz refused to say he was certain that the administration had the votes it needs.
“I have other colleagues who are better gamblers than me, so I’m not going to do the odds business,” Schultz said.
 “The proposed deal falls short of its intentions to eliminate every Iranian pathway to a nuclear weapon,” AIPAC President Robert Cohen wrote in a July 28 letter to members of Congress. “We urge you to oppose the deal in order to keep the United States and our allies safer.”

Newsmax, 29 July 2015 (Bloomberg)