Obama earns crucial 34th vote needed to secure Iran deal

President Barack Obama — (Image credit: Mandal Ngan/AFP/Getty Images)

Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) has become the crucial 34th senator to pledge to support the nuclear deal with Iran, ensuring that President Obama will have enough votes to uphold his veto in the event that a Republican-backed resolution against the deal lands on his desk later this month. The deal between Iran, the U.S., and five other world powers relieves sanctions on Iran in exchange for the nation limiting its nuclear program. Obama's sights may now be set on securing 41 votes — the amount required to filibuster the resolution in the Senate to avoid a veto altogether.

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Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.