Two key Democrats from Florida went separate ways on Tuesday over backing President Barack Obama’s deal with Iran on that nation’s nuclear program. U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., took to the Senate floor and said he would back Obama’s agreement. Nelson had been on the fence on supporting the Iran deal.
“Unless there is an unexpected change in the conditions and facts before the vote is called in September, I will support the nuclear agreement between Iran and the P5+1," Nelson announced on the Senate floor.
While critics insist the agreement will not prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons, Nelson was far more optimistic about it.
"I am convinced it will stop Iran from developing a nuclear weapon for at least the next 10 to 15 years," Nelson said on the Senate floor. "No other available alternative accomplished this vital objective."
While Obama reeled in Nelson’s support, another key Democrat from the Sunshine State parted ways with the White House over the Iran agreement.
U.S. Rep. Ted Deutch, the ranking Democrat on the House Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee, penned an op-ed which appeared in Wednesday’s South Florida Sun Sentinel. In the piece, Deutch expressed his opposition to the Iran deal.
Deutch noted that in his time in Congress and in the Florida Legislature he always opposed the Iranian regime. In the Florida Senate, Deutch led the charge for the state government to divest holdings from businesses working with the Iranian regime.
“I proudly passed the law making Florida first in the nation to prevent taxpayer dollars from financing Iranian nuclear weapons, divesting $1.5 billion as a result,” Deutch wrote. “My election to Congress in April 2010 gave me the opportunity to take Florida’s example nationwide.
"Assessing this deal is not a responsibility I take lightly, especially with four Americans, including my constituent Bob Levinson, currently held in Iran. I applaud Secretary Kerry and his team for their commitment to diplomacy, and thank President Obama for his commitment to preventing a nuclear-armed Iran,” Deutch added.
"Too many issues I have long raised as essential to any nuclear deal with Iran are not adequately addressed in this agreement,” Deutch continued. “I will vote against it when Congress reconvenes in September … There are different predictions about what will happen if Congress rejects this deal. But the consequences of approving it aren’t up for debate. Opening Iran up to foreign investment, increasing its oil exports, and unfreezing over $100 billion in assets means more money for Hamas for building terror tunnels in Gaza, more weapons for Hezbollah in Lebanon, more slaughter in Syria, and more violence worldwide.”
"After a decade in public life working to stop Iran from ever acquiring nuclear weapons, I cannot support a deal giving Iran billions of dollars in sanctions relief -– in return for letting it maintain an advanced nuclear program and the infrastructure of a threshold nuclear state,” Deutch concluded.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
