Sen. Richard Blumenthal is the only member of Connecticut's Congressional Delegation who has not yet endorsed the Obama Administration's nuclear deal with Iran.
Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty announced her support for the deal yesterday in a statement saying that the deal was "imperfect" but added she felt its the best way to ensure Iran does not develop a nuclear weapon.
"I will be doing what I think to be right thing based on conscience and conviction, not on poll numbers and not on the last person who spoke to me," Blumenthal said after he met with a group of people who rallied at his office in support of the deal.
The group displayed signs warning of a possible war with Iran if the deal isn't approved by Congress.
"I think it’s a good deal for the world," said Henry Lowendorf, a New Haven resident who delivered several hundred signatures to Blumenthal in support of the nuclear agreement.
"It asks Iran not to develop nuclear weapons which it’s not doing now, in return for ending sanctions. Iran wins it’s free of sanctions and we win because we’re assured there’s no nuclear weapons," Lowendorf said.
The Iran nuclear deal would lift economic sanctions on the country that has crippled its economy. It would also place limits and caps on the amount Enriched Uranium that the country could produce, as well as mandate changes to existing nuclear facilities to ensure they could not be used to produce materials for weapons.
Local
Sen. Blumenthal says those are all factors he has to consider before making any decision.
"I’ve been listening to opponents, nuclear physicists, diplomatic experts. I’m using this time to listen to them and the people of Connecticut and I’ve learned and immense amount."
He says the only deadline he sees is when the vote is actually taken.
"I’ve been listening to opponents, nuclear physicists, diplomatic experts. I’m using this time to listen to them and the people of Connecticut and I’ve learned and immense amount."
