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WASHINGTON
Nancy Pelosi

Pelosi says Iran deal 'a diplomatic masterpiece'

Susan Davis
USA TODAY

WASHINGTON — The top House Democrat said Thursday that President Obama will have the support he needs to uphold the Iran nuclear deal if Republicans try to block it.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.

"I'm confident because of the nature of the agreement," House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., told reporters Thursday. "This is a diplomatic masterpiece."

Congressional Republicans, nearly all of whom are publicly opposed to the deal, are expected to bring to the floor a resolution of disapproval before a Sept. 17 deadline. If the resolution can pass on the strength of GOP votes, the president has said he will veto it. Then the resolution will face an override vote, in which two-thirds of both chambers would have to agree to override Obama's veto.

That's not going to happen, Pelosi said. "More and more of (House Democrats) have confirmed to me that they will be there to sustain the veto," she said.

Obama hosted House Democrats at a private reception Wednesday evening to continue to make the case for an agreement to end Iran's nuclear weapon ambitions in exchange for dropping economic sanctions and other measures.

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Pelosi said the president made a "very strong and forceful presentation of his case supporting the nuclear agreement with Iran."

House lawmakers adjourned Wednesday for the August recess, where opponents of the Iran deal are lobbying lawmakers back home to oppose the deal.

The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), Citizens for a Nuclear Free Iran, United Against a Nuclear Iran and the Republican Jewish Coalition are among the groups expect to spend between $20 million to $40 million on TV commercials, social media ads and other online efforts criticizing the deal over the month of August.

Pelosi said those groups were trying "to poison the well" but that ultimately Obama will have the support he needs from Democrats.

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