Rep. Steve Israel announces opposition to Iran deal

The White House just lost an influential Democrat on the Iran nuclear deal.
New York Rep. Steve Israel said Tuesday that he would oppose the nonproliferation deal at the center of President Barack Obama’s foreign policy agenda when it comes up for a congressional vote in September — the most high profile Democrat in the House to do so yet.
Israel, who also chairs House Democrats’ messaging arm, said he would also work to oppose the deal — putting him at odds with Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), traditionally a close ally, who is personally lobbying members to support the Iran deal.
“I tried very hard to get to yes. But at the end of the day, despite some positive elements in the deal, the totality compelled me to oppose it,” Israel told Newsday.
It’s a loss for the White House. Israel is a Jewish Democrat — a group the White House has lobbied extensively since Obama announced that he and world leaders had struck a deal with Iran to stop the country’s nuclear development and ease sanctions. Jewish Democrats were invited for a personal briefing with White House senior staffers last month and the entire Democratic Caucus was invited to meet with Obama last week.
Israel told Newsday that he spoke with Obama for 25 minutes last Thursday before announcing his decision.
Still, his announcement does not come as a surprise. He’s long been skeptical of the deal and consistently signaled he would be unlikely to support it. New York Rep. Nita Lowey also announced her opposition to the nuclear deal on Tuesday.