President Obama wins enough Senate votes to block Republican rejection of Iran deal

WASHINGTON, Sept. 8 (UPI) -- President Barack Obama has won the 41 votes he needed in the Senate to reject a Republican majority that would disapprove of the Iran nuclear deal.

Three Democratic Senators -- Sens. Ron Wyden of Oregon, Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut and Gary Peters of Michigan -- announced they would support the deal on Tuesday, Politico reported.

"I will vote to support the proposed agreement concerning Iran's nuclear program and against the resolution of disapproval before the Senate," Blumenthal said in a statement. "My two paramount goals have been to prevent a nuclear-armed Iran and to do so by peaceful means."

The United States' leverage would only be harmed if the pact was rejected, according to Blumenthal.

Peters begrudgingly accepted the deal in his announcement.

"Despite my serious reservations, I will reluctantly vote against a motion of disapproval because I believe that doing so will protect the credibility of the United States to hold Iran accountable to adhere to every single obligation," Peters said in a statement. "But if Iran fails to meet its international obligations under this accord, I will support the immediate reinstatement of Congressional sanctions, and I will encourage my colleagues in Congress to do the same."

All Republicans in the Senate were set to vote against Obama's nuclear deal with Iran, The Hill reported.

Obama planned to veto the Republican disapproval after he won the 34 Senate votes needed to sustain the veto. The president no longer needs to veto now that he's gained enough support in the Senate to block the disapproval resolution.