Lots of Lobbying on Iran Deal, But Few Changing Their Minds

Israeli Officials Still Trying to Shore Up Congressional Opposition

From last Tuesday’s announcement of a P5+1 nuclear deal with Iran, the issue has become a topic of intense lobbying in the US. Israeli officials are lobbying Congress to kill the deal, Obama is lobbying Congress to not kill the deal, Republican Congressional leadership is lobbying the Democratic opposition to go along with killing the deal, etc.

Sen. John Cornyn (R – TX) is calling for the US to renege on the existing deal, impose a bunch of new sanctions on Iran, and then demand a “better deal,” despite the likelihood that most of the lobbying to kill the deal would continue no matter what the terms are.

One thing we’re not seeing is any minds changed, as the opponents are still opponents, the proponents are still proponents, and the undecided, who were all leaning one way or another in the first place, still seem to be leaning more or less the same way.

It is seen as extremely unlikely that a super majority of opponents will emerge in both houses of Congress to actually kill the deal, but just three days into the 60 day review period, no one is likely to give up on the lobbying, setting the stage for months more or fruitless railing at one another about the pact.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.