Senate Dems ‘hopeful’ on Iran deal

by Jordain Carney - 04/14/15 4:06 PM ET

Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) on Tuesday suggested Senate Democrats were “hopeful” about an agreement on moving forward with Iran legislation.

“We are hopeful that it will achieve the following: to make certain that we do not in any way interfere with the negotiations process, that Congress retains its right to make a decision up or down if it wishes on any negotiation agreement that comes forward, and that it’s done on a timely basis,” he told reporters.

{mosads}Durbin called the negotiations between Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) and Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.), the ranking member, a “good faith effort.”

“We are hopeful that this will move forward,” he said.

The agreement, which still has to be approved by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, shortens the timeframe for Congress to review an Iran deal and allows President Obama to submit the deal after June 30, the deadline for negotiators to finalize a deal.

The White House said Tuesday that Obama would sign the new agreement, with Press Secretary Josh Earnest telling reporters “enough substantial changes have been made.”

Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said he still needs to read the agreement but was optimistic about the direction of the deal.

“I think it’s really a wonderful step forward. That the White House and the Foreign Relations Committee has agreed to move forward,” he said. “I feel a lot better about this today than I did yesterday.”

Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) also backed the Corker-Cardin agreement Tuesday, saying that he is “certainly in favor of what they’ve put together.”

Tags Ben Cardin Bob Corker Chuck Schumer Dick Durbin Harry Reid