McConnell announces 'Plan B' to stop Iran deal

By Susan Ferrechio, Susan Ferrechio

Published December 20, 2015

Senate voting for second time on Iran nuclear deal

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell announced a "Plan B" to halt a nuclear deal that would lift sanctions against Iran.

The measure, which Republican aides said likely would be voted on Thursday, would prevent President Obama from lifting the sanctions until Iran releases four jailed Americans and recognizes the right of Israel to exist.

McConnell made the announcement as Democrats prepared for a second time to filibuster a resolution of disapproval of the nuclear deal. Soon after McConnell's remarks, 42 Democrats again filibustered the resolution, preventing it from getting the 60 votes needed to advance.

"My strong preference is for Democrats to simply allow an up-or-down vote on the president's Iran deal." McConnell said. "But if they're determined to make that impossible, then at the very least we should be able to provide some protection to Israel and long-overdue relief to Americans who've languished in Iranian custody for years. Either way, this debate will continue."