Senate Foreign Relations Chairman Bob Corker hopes Democrats don’t thwart the Iran deal disapproval resolution with a filibuster, but he always knew it was possible.  

“This debate should be focused on the substance of the president’s deal with Iran and whether this Congress believes we should allow the leading state sponsor of terrorism to have an industrialized nuclear weapons program with the approval of the United States,” the Tennessee Republican said in a statement provided first to CQ Roll Call. “I recognize, and have all along, that it takes 60 senators to advance legislation and get to a final vote on a bill or resolution,” the statement continues. “As the author of the legislation that allowed for this debate, a final vote on a resolution of disapproval at the 60-vote threshold was never part of the construction of the bill and is nowhere in the text of the bill. With 98 senators on the record voting in support of the legislation, I am very disappointed that some members on the other side of the aisle are reversing their positions and now threatening to filibuster to keep the Senate from voting on this consequential agreement with Iran.”  

Some Republicans have argued that the usual course of the Senate’s rules for debate, including the requirement to get 60 votes to overcome a filibuster threat, shouldn’t apply to the disapproval of the international agreement with Iran regarding its nuclear development.  

Corker is arguing merely that Democrats should not block the final vote.
Related:

Senate Democrats Can Block Iran Deal Disapproval


Where Committee Leaders Land on Iran


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