Idaho Congressmen Don’t Support Iran Nuclear Deal

BOISE, Idaho (KTVB) -- U.S. and other world leaders say they reached a nuclear deal with Iran on Tuesday. Some say it will preserve the peace, but critics say it's a bad deal that should have included the release of a Boise pastor. President Obama and his Administration say Tuesday's deal with Iran over nuclear weapons is a compromise, forcing Iran to abandon its nuclear program, in exchange for lifting billions of dollars in sanctions.

But, Idaho Republican Sen. Jim Risch says letting Iran have that money will help them fund terrorism, "A vote for this is a vote that will result in the deaths of many, many innocent people in a lot of parts of the world." Risch also says there's not nearly enough oversight in the deal, and that this is a way forward to Iran getting a nuclear weapon. Risch believes the release of imprisoned Boise Pastor Saeed Abedini (and three other Americans) should've been a pre-condition for the talks even happening and the lifting of any of the economic sanctions. He believes those four could all be home right now, "There is no doubt in my mind the Iranians would've agreed to that. They are broke. They needed the money." Idaho Sen. Mike Crapo and Rep. Raul Labrador agree that the release of Abedini should've been part of the negotiations.

Saeed's wife, Naghmeh, says when she learned her husband's release was not a part of the deal, she was heartbroken, "The kids don't know about it, and I've tried to be strong for them. But it was very discouraging for me to hear that." Congress will have 60 days to review the deal, and possibly pass legislation to block it. But the president says he'll veto any bill that does that. Also, Risch says there are likely not enough votes to override that veto. They'd need a two-thirds majority to do that.