Arizona Senator Jeff Flake, the lone Republican who was considering supporting the Iran nuclear deal, announced plans on Saturday to vote no, reports The Associated Press.
Flake, a freshman who had praised President Barack Obama for seeking a diplomatic solution, had been publicly undecided, making him a top target of the White House’s concerted lobbying campaign, noted AP. Senate vote-counters had considered Flake the only truly undecided GOP vote, although his fellow Republicans had expressed confidence he would oppose it.
“I cannot vote in support of this deal,” Flake said, according to the AP. “As written, this agreement gives Iran leverage it currently doesn’t have,” Flake said.
The announcement deals a significant blow to the White House’s efforts to garner bipartisan backing for the deal.
{Matzav.com}
