Obama seeks support for deal with Iran

Associated Press

WASHINGTON

At home and abroad, the White House courted support for a landmark nuclear deal with Iran on Thursday as congressional leaders in both parties pointed toward a politically charged showdown this fall over Republican attempts to scuttle the agreement.

“It blows my mind that the administration would agree to lift the arms and missile bans and sanctions,” said Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, referring to some of the provisions in the complex accord.

He said the Republican-controlled Congress likely would soon be on track to pass legislation denying President Barack Obama the ability to lift numerous financial and other restrictions Iran currently faces.

House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi of California became the first prominent Democrat in Congress to back the deal, saying she is “very optimistic about our ability to support the president.”

Obama has pledged to veto any bill rejecting the agreement. Neither Pelosi nor Boehner ventured a prediction on the final outcome.

The maneuvering in Congress unfolded as Secretary of State John Kerry met with Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir, coming away without an immediate endorsement for the deal.

“We hope that the Iranians will use this deal in order to improve the economic situation in Iran and to improve the lot of the Iranian people and not use it for adventures in the region,” the Saudi diplomat said. His country is Iran’s main rival in the Middle East, and Kerry promised to respond if Tehran supports terrorism against its neighbors.