US House votes against Iran nuclear deal

The U.S. House of Representatives on Friday voted against a resolution backing the nuclear agreement with Iran, in a symbolic vote started by congressional Republicans who object to the deal.

The result of Friday's vote, however, won't stop President Barack Obama from implementing the international agreement.

After hours of debate, the House voted 269 to 162 against the resolution. All but one Republicans voted against approval of the agreement. The 162 approving votes were all come from Democrats. Twenty-five Democrats also voted against approval of the deal.

The House also voted 247-186 to disapprove Obama on lifting economic sanctions against Iran.

Both bills were expected to be killed in the House as they would not be taken up by the Senate.

On Thursday, U.S. Senate Democrats blocked a resolution disapproving the Iran deal, lending President Obama a major victory on his foreign policy priority. In a 58-42 vote, Senate Republicans were two votes short of the 60 needed to move forward the resolution.

In a statement on Friday, Obama called the vote in the House "is the latest indication that the more members have studied" and the more people "have come out in support" of the deal.

"Now, we must turn to the critical work of implementing and verifying this deal so that Iran cannot pursue a nuclear weapon," Obama said in the statement.

The P5+1 group, namely the U.S., Britain, France, China, Russia and Germany, reached a comprehensive nuclear deal with Iran in July. The accord would provide sanctions relief for Iran in exchange for limits on its controversial nuclear program.

Source: XINHUA