Retiring Democratic Senator Gives Obama Final Vote to Ensure Victory on Iran Deal

Retiring Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) is the 34th senator to support Iran nuclear deal, guaranteeing that President Barack Obama will be able to sustain a veto of an attempt to kill the agreement.

President Barack Obama with Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) and other members of Congress in the Oval Office, Nov. 19, 2014. (Ron Sachs-Pool/Getty Images)

“No deal is perfect, especially one negotiated with the Iranian regime,” the longtime senator, who is not running for re-election, said in a statement Wednesday. “I have concluded that this Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action is the best option available to block Iran from having a nuclear bomb. For these reasons, I will vote in favor of this deal. However, Congress must also reaffirm our commitment to the safety and security of Israel.”

The Associated Press first reported on Mikulski's decision. Sen. Chris Choons (D-Del.) and Bob Casey (D-Pa.) announced their support for the deal on Tuesday, putting Obama just one vote short.

Congress is expected to have a majority to support a resolution opposing the U.S.-led multinational deal with Iran, but now there will not be the necessary two-thirds to override the certain Obama veto.

Mikulski said she has been an "unabashed and unwavering supporter of Israel" during her time in the House and Senate.

"I have persistently supported the sanctions that brought Iran to the table,” she said. “I have been insistent on foreign aid and military assistance to Israel that maintains its qualitative military edge on missile defense. With the horrors of the Holocaust in mind, I have been deeply committed to the need for a Jewish homeland, the state of Israel, and its inherent ability to defend itself. And for the United States to be an unwavering partner in Israel’s defense. I have been and always will be committed to those principles.”

She said the deal blocks four pathways to Iran obtaining a nuclear bomb and said she is sufficiently satisfied with the International Atomic Energy Agency’s ability to inspect Iran's facilities. Further, she said she believes that sanctions can be snapped back into place if Iran does not hold up its end of the deal.

“Some have suggested we reject this deal and impose unilateral sanctions to force Iran back to the table. But maintaining or stepping up sanctions will only work if the sanction coalition holds together. It’s unclear if the European Union, Russia, China, India and others would continue sanctions if Congress rejects this deal,” Mikulski said. "At best, sanctions would be porous, or limited to unilateral sanctions by the U.S. But these are the same reasons that the efficacy of the snapback provision is questioned. If you don’t think snapback works, enhanced sanctions won’t work either.”

Obama and other administration officials have called the agreement negotiated with Iran and six world powers one of the most significant achievements of his presidency.

“The administration is encouraged that more than a third of the United States Senate has now indicated that they’ll support the successful implementation of the international diplomatic agreement to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon," White House press secretary Josh Earnest told reporters today following Obama's trip in Alaska. "This strong support is a validation of the outreach that the president and his team have organized to make sure that every member of the Senate understands exactly what’s included in this agreement,” Earnest said.

The administration has organized classified briefings, has testified under oath and has held small-group and one-on-one meetings to help members of Congress understand the agreement, he said.

“We are encouraged about the latest tally, but when the stakes are this high … every vote is important. And there are still a number of members of Congress in both the House and the Senate that have not yet indicated that they’ll support the agreement, and everyone from the president on down will continue to be engaged in marshaling the information necessary so that undecided members can reach their own conclusions about the agreement."

Earnest added, “We intended to build as much support as possible in the both the House and the Senate, and that’s why our efforts even as we speak today are continuing.”

He said the White House will continue briefings with members of Congress.

Nearly every Republican has voiced opposition to the deal in Congress, while only two Democratic senators, Chuck Schumer of New York and Robert Menedez of New Jersey, have said they would oppose it.

This will not halt Republican opposition, said a spokesman for House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio).

“Forcing a bad deal, over the objections of the American people and a majority in Congress, is no win for President Obama," Boehner spokesman Cory Fritz said in a statement. "The White House may have convinced just enough Democrats to back an agreement that legitimizes Iran’s nuclear program, trusts the regime to self-inspect and offers amnesty to terrorists, but this deal is far from being implemented.”

This post was updated to include comment from White House press secretary Josh Earnest.