Maryland Senator Barbara Mikulski. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

JNS.org – Maryland Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) announced on Wednesday that she would back President Barack Obama’s nuclear deal with Iran, becoming the 34th senator to support the deal, and ensuring enough supporting votes to prevent an override of a presidential veto of any resolution passed by Congress against the deal.

“No deal is perfect, especially one negotiated with the Iranian regime,” Mikulski said in a statement. “I have concluded that this Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action is the best option available to block Iran from having a nuclear bomb. For these reasons, I will vote in favor of this deal. However, Congress must also reaffirm our commitment to the safety and security of Israel.”

Congress is in the midst of a 60-day review period of the Iranian nuclear deal. Nearly every Republican in the Senate, which is controlled by Republicans, has come out against the deal, as well as some Democrats, including Sens. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Robert Menendez (D-N.J.). However, while the Senate is likely to reject the deal, President Obama has said that he will veto any disapproval, meaning that the Senate must then gain a two-thirds majority, or 66 votes, to override this veto. Mikulski’s support for the deal likely ensures such a majority.

Earlier this week, Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA) and Chris Coons (D-DE) became the 32nd and 33rd supporters of the deal respectively.