In split with Obama, Sen. Chuck Schumer opposes Iran deal

WASHINGTON (AP) — Sen. Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat expected to be the party's next leader in the Senate, said he will oppose the Iran nuclear deal in spite of President Barack Obama's intense lobbying in favor of the accord.

The deal, struck last month with Tehran and Western powers, would curb Iran's nuclear program in exchange for billions of dollars in relief from crippling sanctions.

"The very real risk that Iran will not moderate and will, instead, use the agreement to pursue its nefarious goals is too great," Schumer said in opposing the pact. He said he based his decision on the nuclear and nonnuclear elements of the accord and on the question, "Are we better off with the agreement or without it?"

A leading Jewish Democrat, Schumer was the first senator of Obama's party to step forward to oppose the deal. Obama had steadily been gaining support for the pact, and today, Wisconsin Democratic Sen. Tammy Baldwin announced that she would back the measure.

"Simply put, I do not believe that rejecting this agreement is in our national security interest," Baldwin said.