Obama secures votes needed to approve Iran nuclear deal

The US president has secured the votes he needed for the passage of a historic nuclear accord with the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Barbara Mikulski, a Democratic Senator for the state of Maryland, will give her backing to the agreement brokered by US Secretary of State John Kerry and the other representatives of the so-called P5+1 nations, the Wall Street Journal reports.

Mikulski´s support means there are now 34 Democrats in the upper house of the US Congress, the Senate, who back the executive branch´s offer to lift sanctions on Iran in exchange for putting in place measures which are meant to curb the country´s nuclear ambitions.

That will allow Obama to veto any attempt by Congress to block an agreement.

Nonetheless, Obama will have to approve the deal despite the bipartisan majority which opposes it.

"No deal is perfect, especially one negitiated with the Iranian regime, [but it is] the best option available to block Iran from having a nuclear bomb," Mikulski reportedly said.

"The choice we face is ultimately between diplomacy or some form of War," the US president said in a 5 August speech.