Bob Casey

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., is one of the senators who supports the Iran nuclear deal and help hand President Barack Obama a major foreign policy victory despite strong opposition.

Casey and Democrat Chris Coons of Delaware today became the 32nd and 33rd senators to announce support for the deal, just one shy of the 34 votes needed to uphold an Obama veto of GOP legislation aimed at blocking it.

Casey said in a statement, “This agreement will substantially constrain the Iranian nuclear program for its duration, and compared with all realistic alternatives, it is the best option available to us at this time.”

Earlier today Sen. Ben Cardin of Maryland, top Democrat on the Foreign Relations Committee, predicted that Obama would get to 34 votes by week's end.

Republicans unanimously oppose the deal, which aims to curb Iran's nuclear program in exchange for relief from economic sanctions, and the Israeli government is vehemently opposed.

With 34 votes looking to be within reach, supporters have begun aiming to get 41 votes, which would block the disapproval resolution from passing which would spare Obama from having to use his veto pen.