“There are strong arguments for and against the agreement but, as a matter of conscience, I have decided to oppose it,” she explained.
The congresswoman said she is concerned that “even if Iran complies with the restraints spelled out throughout the life of the agreement, the deal does not block Iran from eventually acquiring nuclear weapons.”
The United States, Israel, and some of their allies accuse Iran of pursuing military objectives in its nuclear program, an allegation denied by Tehran.
Iran and the P5+1 group of countries -- the US, Britain, France, Russia, China, and Germany – announced the conclusion of nuclear negotiations in the Austrian capital, Vienna, on July 14.
Under the agreement, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, restrictions will be put on Iran’s nuclear activities in exchange for, among other things, the removal of all economic sanctions against the Islamic Republic.
The US Congress will vote on the agreement in September.
Maloney is the sixth New York House Democrat to publicly oppose the agreement. Much of the opposition has come from New York, particularly from Jewish Democrats such as Senator Charles Schumer and Representative Eliot Engel.
The Democrats’ opposition to the agreement is considered a blow to Obama, who is striving to save it in Congress, which is expected to pass a resolution opposing the measure.
The president needs the support of 34 Senate Democrats to sustain a presidential veto and preserve his top foreign policy achievement from collapse, if Congress rejects the agreement.
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