The Republican-led US House of Representatives will vote on whether to reject the nuclear agreement between world powers and Iran when lawmakers return to Washington in September, party leaders said on Tuesday, setting up a showdown with the White House.
"This deal gives up too much, too fast to (Iran)," said Representative Ed Royce, the Republican chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, who introduced the disapproval resolution, Reuters reported.
A law President Barack Obama signed in May gives the Republican-led Congress until Sept. 17 to approve or disapprove of the Iran nuclear deal announced on July 14.
A disapproval resolution could cripple the agreement by eliminating Obama's ability to waive most US sanctions, and Obama has promised a veto if a resolution passes Congress.
Lawmakers could have opted to vote on a non-binding approval resolution, or just let the deal go ahead. Although they had not made it clear before Tuesday, House leaders had been expected to opt for the disapproval resolution.
The top Republican in the US Senate, Mitch McConnell, said the Senate will also likely consider a disapproval measure.
Boost for Obama
Obama's diplomatic initiative won important support on Tuesday among his fellow Democrats, increasing chances that deal supporters would be able to sustain Obama's promised veto.
Democratic Senators Tim Kaine, who co-authored legislation giving Congress the right to review the deal, Barbara Boxer, a senior member of the Foreign Relations Committee, and Bill Nelson, who had been seen as a potential swing vote, all announced their support. However, three Jewish House members said they were opposed, including Steve Israel, a member of the House Democratic leadership; Nita Lowey, ranking member on House Appropriations and Ted Deutch, a senior member of House Foreign Affairs. Lowey and Deutch are both Democrats.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu strongly opposes the nuclear agreement. Some pro-Israel groups have been lobbying against it, increasing pressure on Jewish lawmakers and those with large Jewish constituencies.
Congress will have less than two weeks to consider a resolution after the August recess. The House left Washington last week. The Senate departs Friday.
