WASHINGTON — Republican U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell Thursday postponed plans to debate and vote next week on a bill that would require President Barack Obama to submit any nuclear agreement with Iran for Congress’ approval.
Many Democrats — including co-sponsors of the bill — had objected to McConnell’s plan to push forward with the legislation before international negotiators’ late-March deadline for reaching a framework agreement to curb Iran’s nuclear program.
Democratic Sen. Robert Menendez of New York, who introduced the measure last week with Republican Sen. Bob Corker of Tennessee, was among several Democrats who had said they would not vote for it until after March 24.
Obama has said he will veto the bill if it passes, which would mean it would need the support of two-thirds of both the Senate and House of Representatives to become law.
Corker said he was pleased with McConnell’s decision.
“I greatly appreciate the Majority Leader’s commitment to getting the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act across the finish line by allowing the vote to occur at a time when we will more likely generate a veto-proof majority,” Corker said in a statement.