US Republicans claim votes to oppose Iran deal

Republicans in the US House of Representatives have said that they have amassed sufficient votes to disapprove of a deal announced on July 14 to curb Iran's nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of sanctions.

Peter Roskam, a Republican representative for Illinois, on Monday introduced a resolution of disapproval on the deal which, if passed, would paralyze US President Barack Obama's ability to drop sanctions against the Islamic republic.

"Congress and the American people believe a better agreement is still achievable, and we can start by walking away from this one," said Roskam in a statement, according to AFP news agency.

"We will do everything in our power to stop an accord that so utterly fails to shut down Iran's nuclear program," he added.

Republic Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said that the Senate "in all likelihood" would opt for a disapproval resolution as well.

Republicans hold 246 seats in the House and 54 in the Senate, although they would need to gain a two-thirds majority in order to pass the resolution ahead of an expected veto by Obama.

Meanwhile, key Democrats including House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Adam Schiff, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence committee, have backed the deal.

Schiff said the deal "realistically precludes Iran from developing an atomic bomb" in the next 15 years, according to the Associated Press.

Congress has until September to approve or disapprove of the deal.

ls/cmk (AP, AFP, Reuters)