Donnelly Says He Supports Iran Nuclear Deal

INDIANAPOLIS -- Indiana’s U.S. Senate delegation will be split on the Iran nuclear agreement after Democrat Joe Donnelly Wednesday announced his support for the deal. 

Donnelly says he still has questions about Iran’s intentions in the nuclear agreement and cites a lack of action to cut off Iranian support for terrorism.  But he says his chief concern is the potential future need for U.S. military intervention in the Middle Eastern nation. 

In a statement, the Hoosier Democrat says he owes it to American servicemembers to ensure every other option of preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon is exhausted. He says he’s willing to give the nuclear agreement the opportunity to succeed. 

GOP Sen. Dan Coats previously called on Congress to reject the deal. 

Support and opposition for the agreement crosses party lines – former Indiana Democratic Sen. Evan Bayh opposes the deal, while former Sen. Richard Lugar, a Republican, supports it.