Sen. Harry Reid forcefully backs Iran deal, greatly increasing its odds of survival

On Sunday, Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said he will "strongly support" the nuclear deal with Iran "and will do everything in my power to ensure that it stands." Reid, the Senate's top Democrat, is the 27th senator, all Democrats, to publicly back the Iran accord. Two Democrats — Sens. Chuck Schumer (N.Y.) and Robert Menendez (N.J.) — have said they will vote against the Iran deal, joining what's expected to be unified Republican opposition.

Thirty-four senators can ensure that if the Senate disapproves of the Iran agreement, President Obama's veto will stand; 41 senators can sustain a filibuster, meaning Obama wouldn't even have to veto the bill. Reid told The Washington Post that he is "cautiously optimistic" that his caucus will prevent a veto override and "still hopeful" they will be able to block the bill entirely.

"At the end of the day, there is no doubt in my mind that the threat of Iran gaining a nuclear weapon — the one outcome we all agree is unacceptable — is far more likely if Congress rejects this agreement," Reid said, adding that critics' assertion that the deal could be re-negotiated on better terms is "fantasy."

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