Veinna talks : Nuclear deal with Iran uncertain

Washington

Down-to-the-wire talks in Vienna this week will decide whether the United States can reach a landmark nuclear deal with Iran, but a fierce lobbying battle in Washington may decide if it survives.

For the last two years, those for and against an agreement to curb Iran's nuclear program have traded newspaper opinion pieces, rolled out dueling advocacy campaigns and lobbied "influencers" on the think tank circuit.

But, days before the June 30 negotiating deadline, the White House's political allies and its foes are significantly dialing up efforts to sell or sink the deal.

‘United Against Nuclear Iran’,led by former president George W. Bush's ambassador to the United Nations, Mark Wallace  announced Tuesday it will plough vast resources into influencing the debate.

"We announced a national advocacy campaign with national television ads, print, multi-tiered social media and digital," Wallace said.

"We have a multi-million-dollar budget and we are in it for the long haul. Money continues to pour in."

According to Trita Parsi, head of the pro-deal National Iranian American Council, "everyone is doing more. We are doing significantly more."

Both sides have in their sights members of Congress and the voters who might sway their decision. Lawmakers will have a chance to vote on whatever deal comes from Vienna and opponents may manage to muster a majority against it.

But few believe Obama's critics, mostly Republicans, will have a big enough majority to make their verdict veto-proof.

Supporters of the deal point out that the history of Obama's domestic legislative victories shows there are perils even in triumph. In short, the vote count may matter as much as who wins.

Obama's landmark healthcare and financial reform both passed Congress by slender margins, prompting sustained efforts by opponents to re-legislate in Congress and re-litigate in the courts.

Republicans have tried to repeal "Obamacare" dozens of times and in a variety of guises -- the issue has even twice made its way into the Supreme Court.

Obama's opponents may have fewer avenues to scotch a deal with Iran, but even supporters admit multiple avenues do exist to slow or stall the agreement.

Congress will ultimately have to vote on repealing the those sanctions against Iran that were not introduced by White House order -- the bulk of US measures against Tehran.