Americans for Peace Now (APN) applauds the letter sent today to President Obama, signed by 150 House Democrats, in support of ongoing diplomacy with Iran.  APN congratulates Representatives Schakowsky (D-IL), Doggett (D-TX), and Price (D-NC) for their leadership in spearheading this effort and commends all House members who co-signed this critically important letter, which APN backed strongly.

This letter – signed by one-third of the voting members of the House, including members of the Democratic leadership and Jewish members – sends an unprecedented and resounding message of Congressional backing for the ongoing Iran negotiations and the achievement of an agreement to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, consistent with the Framework Agreement announced last month.

The release of the Schakowsky-Doggett-Price letter comes during a period of intense negotiations between the P5+1 and Iran over the final details of an agreement, the deadline for which is June 30. Its positive, pro-diplomacy message should encourage and energize negotiators as they enter the final stretch in this long and arduous negotiations effort.   

The letter’s publication also coincides with efforts in the Senate to pass legislation, led by Sen. Corker (R-TN), mandating Congressional oversight over any Iran deal. Some opponents of an achievable nuclear agreement with Iran – both inside and outside of Congress – have made clear that their goal is to block implementation of any deal reached between the P5+1 and Iran. Under the Corker legislation, this goal could only be realized if Congress adopts a resolution disapproving of a deal, President Obama vetoes that resolution, and 2/3 of the House and 2/3 of the Senate vote to override that veto.  Today’s House letter, while in no way committing its signers to any specific position with respect to a final deal, nonetheless signals that there may well be sufficient support for a deal in Congress to prevent any such veto override.

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Go HERE to Follow-Up Action on Iran Diplomacy Letter: Thanks and Spanks
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