Politics

Schumer knocks Obama’s Iran deal, promises bipartisan fight to keep sanctions [VIDEO]

Vince Coglianese Editorial Director
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Sen. Chuck Schumer is panning President Obama’s deal with Iran.

The New York Democrat and key White House ally sounded less than pleased with the agreement during a Sunday night speech to Ohel, a Jewish social service group. The deal calls for Iran to slow down its nuclear program in exchange for a loosening of international sanctions.

“Democrats and Republicans are going to work to see that we don’t let up on these sanctions,” Schumer said. He also promised to keep up pressure against the country “until Iran not only gives up all nuclear weapons, but all nuclear weapon capability.”

“So I want to leave you with that plan and that assurance,” Schumer said, according to video published by JP Updates.

“It was strong sanctions, not the goodness of the hearts of the Iranian leaders, that brought Iran to the table, and any reduction relieves the psychological pressure of future sanctions and gives them hope that they will be able to gain nuclear weapon capability while further sanctions are reduced,” Schumer said in a Sunday statement.

Schumer’s remarks could signal that Obama faces an uphill battle as he works to convince pro-Israel Democrats to support the deal.

Obama was quick to celebrate the multilateral deal Saturday night as “an important first step toward a comprehensive solution.”

“For the first time in nearly a decade, we have halted the progress of the Iranian nuclear program,” Obama said in a televised statement.

WATCH SCHUMER BLAST IRAN DEAL:

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, meanwhile, described the deal as “a historic mistake.”

“What was concluded in Geneva last night is not a historic agreement, it’s a historic mistake,” Netanyahu said Sunday. “It’s not made the world a safer place. Like the agreement with North Korea in 2005, this agreement has made the world a much more dangerous place.”

“[F]or the first time, the international community has formally consented that Iran continue its enrichment of uranium,” Netanyahu said.

Schumer’s office did not immediately respond to The Daily Caller’s request for comment.

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