Local officials oppose Iran nuclear deal

The northwest Bronx’s elected officials from U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer to Councilman Andrew Cohen are opposing a deal to lift sanctions on Iran in exchange for limits on its nuclear program.

Mr. Schumer and Rep. Eliot Engel made headlines in recent days as they said they would vote against the deal, which fellow Democrat President Barack Obama has aggressively championed since last month.

“After deep study, careful thought and considerable soul-searching, I have decided I must oppose the agreement and will vote yes on a motion of disapproval,” Mr. Schumer said in a statement.

He cited concerns with specific parts of the deal like the conditions for inspectors to visit suspected nuclear sites in Iran, saying, “Inspections are not ‘anywhere, anytime’; the 24-day delay before we can inspect is troubling.”

Mr. Engel has made the media rounds with a similar message, arguing that “Iran is a grave threat to international stability” (see his op-ed).

Mr. Cohen and Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz were quick to send out statements agreeing with the federal officials.

“This deal concerns me as both an American elected official and an individual of Jewish heritage, who also represents a large constituency of Jewish-Americans,” Mr. Cohen stated.

It was not clear exactly where Bronx state Sen. Jeff Klein — who has spoken alongside the other officials in support of Israel at previous events — stood on the nuclear deal with Iran. His office did not answer an interview request for this article.

Bronx Dems for Clinton

The Democratic presidential primary has also brought out a chorus of input form local officials. The Bronx Democratic County Committee recently endorsed former Secretary of State and New York Senator Hillary Clinton.

“What I see in Hillary Clinton is possibly the most qualified person in my lifetime to run for president,” said Mr. Dinowitz, the chair of the Bronx Democratic County Committee (second in command of the Bronx’s Democratic Party, behind Assemblyman Marcos Crespo).