Georgia’s Republican members of Congress were immediately skeptical of Tuesday’s agreement on Iran’s nuclear program, while the state’s Democrats — the party that will determine the deal’s fate — had mixed emotions.
Congress will have 60 days to weigh the deal, which was designed to restrict Iran's nuclear capability for more than a decade in exchange for lifting economic sanctions. President Barack Obama vowed to veto a congressional effort to kill the agreement, meaning foes will need bipartisan two-thirds majorities to override him.
Distrustful of Iran and siding with the concerns of Israel’s government, Republicans are expected to oppose the agreement.
Both of Georgia’s Republican U.S. senators, Johnny Isakson and David Perdue, serve on the Foreign Relations Committee, which will be the center of debate. Both said they would vet the agreement, while criticizing what they know of it so far.
“Right now, I remain extremely concerned that this deal does not go far enough to fully prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapons capability and ensure anytime, anywhere inspections access of all nuclear and military sites,” Perdue said.
Isakson said the forthcoming vote “may be the most important” of his 16-year career in Congress.
“Iranians have never proven to be a trustworthy negotiator,” Isakson said, “nor have they been trustworthy in their actions with the United States.”
U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson, a Lithonia Democrat, backed Obama.
“Thus far, I am optimistic that with our allies we have put in place a strong inspections and verification regime that must be given a chance,” Johnson said. “No deal means a greater chance of more war in the Middle East.”
Atlanta Democratic U.S. Rep. John Lewis praised Obama as well, while saying he would look closely at the details.
“The United States is under no illusion about the threat that a nuclear Iran poses to the global community,” Lewis said. “Continuing to operate in the dark, however, is unsustainable. An agreement that makes the process of demilitarization and nuclear disarmament more transparent, in the long term, can lead to greater national security for all members of the world community.”
U.S. Rep. Sanford Bishop, an Albany Democrat, said he would review the deal and laid out both pros and cons.
“Thirty-five years of hostility and mistrust against the United States, Israel and its allies cannot simply be swept away by the signature of a pen in Vienna, Austria,” Bishop said. “It will take vigilance on our side to ensure that Iran keeps its word now and into the future.”
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