WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama’s nuclear agreement with Iran won an important endorsement on Friday from Democratic Rep. Jerrold Nadler of New York, who bucked opposition from fellow New York Jewish lawmakers including his home state’s senior senator, Chuck Schumer.

Nadler’s endorsement followed a personal appeal from Obama, who sent him a letter earlier this week defending the deal and pledging that the US will continue to put economic pressure on Iran and keep military options open. “I bring to my analysis the full weight of my responsibilities as a member of Congress, and my perspective as an American Jew who is both a Democrat and a strong supporter of Israel,” Nadler said in a statement.

He said he’d concluded that of the alternatives, the agreement “gives us the best chance of stopping Iran from developing a nuclear weapon”.

The deal seeks to keep Iran from building a nuclear bomb in exchange for billions in international sanctions relief. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is vehemently opposed to the agreement.

“In our conversations, Jerry raised specific concerns relating to Israeli security and the US commitment to countering Iran’s destabilizing activities in the region,” Obama said on Friday.

Published in Dawn, August 22nd, 2015

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