Obama Now Has the Congressional Votes He Needs to Finalize the Iran Deal

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On Wednesday, Maryland Senator Barbara Mikulski announced her support for the treaty with Iran that lifted international sanctions in exchange for limits on Iran's nuclear program. She's the 34th Democrat in the Senate to back the deal, and that magic number means that if Congress passes a resolution disapproving the treaty, President Barack Obama can veto it without fear of it being overridden by a two-thirds majority in Congress.

"No deal is perfect, especially one negotiated with the Iranian regime," wrote Mikulski, according to Roll Call. "I have concluded that this Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action is the best option available to block Iran from having a nuclear bomb. For these reasons, I will vote in favor of this deal. However, Congress must also reaffirm our commitment to the safety and security of Israel."

Opponents of the deal, including prominent pro-Israel groups and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have objected loudly to the terms of the agreement, claiming that it empowers Iran too much and will lead to the country acquiring a nuclear weapon, either by secretly violating the terms of the agreement or by waiting 15 years, when some provisions of the deal expire. (GOP 2016 candidates have pledged to scrap the deal if elected president.) But despite a fierce campaign over the summer, it appears that the anti-deal contingent has lost the battle.