South Asia Center Nonresident Senior Fellow Barbara Slavin writes for Voice of America on the need for support from Republican proponents of the Iran deal:
A week after President Barack Obama passionately defended the Iran deal in a speech at American University, the political ripples keep spreading.
Many commentators have complained about Obama’s tough tone and his equation of Republican opponents of the deal with Iranian hardliners who chant “Death to America” at staged government rallies. Others dispute the president’s contention that those who oppose the Iran agreement include the same people who supported the US invasion of Iraq in 2003, and thus would favor military action against Iran.
Anger at Obama’s comments – which appear aimed at shoring up his Democratic base for a likely fight to hold the line against Congressional disapproval of the deal – is not an excuse for silence among Republicans who support the Iran agreement.