January 13, 2014 | Quote
Iran Sanctions Push Gains Supporters in Senate
Fifty-nine senators now back a new sanctions package they say would increase the pressure on Iran to make nuclear concessions, congressional aides said Friday. The count brings Congress closer to passing a bill the Obama administration considers a threat to a historic diplomatic opportunity.
The senators in favor include every Republican except Jeff Flake of Arizona and Rand Paul of Kentucky, aides said. Sixteen Democrats are on board including Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York, a top ally of President Barack Obama. Many more are understood to be sitting on the fence.
With the House of Representatives strongly backing more economic pressure on Tehran, the Senate is now close to the 60 votes needed to pass most legislation. And advocates are not far away from rounding up the 67 votes they would need to override a presidential veto, which the White House has vowed if the bill makes it out of Congress. Aides provided the latest tally on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to speak publicly on the matter.
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“I am very doubtful that Obama will take on Putin on this given his dependence on Russia ahead of the next round of nuclear negotiations,” said Mark Dubowitz, an Iran expert at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies.