Cruz wants McConnell to delay Iran vote

by Jordain Carney - 09/09/15 11:47 AM ET

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) aimed to pressure Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on the Iran nuclear deal, suggesting that the review period hasn’t started because Congress hasn’t received so-called “side deals.”

“The review period has not started and does not start until the entire deal is submitted to Congress and the president cannot lift these sanctions until the review period expires,” Cruz said. “Therefore I call upon leadership of my party—Leader McConnnell, Speaker Boehner—simply enforce the terms of Corker-Cardin [review bill].”

{mosads}The Texas Republican, who is running for president, referred to two so-called “side deals” between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA.) The deals have been a focus of Republican criticism of the Iran nuclear agreement.

He added that McConnell and Boehner are the “two individuals in Washington, D.C., who have the capacity still to stop this deal.”

McConnell has called on the administration to hand over the “side deals.”

Cruz’s comments come as the deal got its 42nd supporter in the Senate on Tuesday evening, with Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) becoming the final senator to announce their position on the agreement.

If 41 of the 42 supporters also vote “no” on overcoming a procedural hurdle, a resolution of disapproval on the Iran deal could be blocked from initially passing the Senate.

Cruz praised Democratic Sens. Ben Cardin (Del.), Joe Manchin (W.Va.), Bob Menendez (N.J.) and Chuck Schumer (N.Y.) who are opposing the Iran deal.

“That ought be reason to cause every other Democratic member of this body to take a second assessment of their own decisions,” he added. “I also want to mention Senator Chris Coons of Connecticut, who… maintains that it should go to a vote and not go into effect by defeat because the minority can block cloture through a filibuster.”

Coons, who is from Delaware, as well as a handful of his Democratic colleagues have remained tightlipped about whether or not they will support a filibuster.

Cruz aimed to pressure Democrats on Wednesday, asking them to “search your conscience. You can make a choice other than standing with your own party.”

Cruz’s push comes as House Republicans are divided on how to proceed on the Iran deal, with a meeting expected on Wednesday afternoon to try to find a path forward.

Members of the conservative House Freedom Caucus wants leadership to delay a vote on the agreement until the administration hands over the text of the “side deals.”