BICOM

US Secretary of State John Kerry called Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the weekend to discuss the Iran deal and reaffirm the US commitment to Israel’s security, according to the State Department on Tuesday. A State Department spokesperson said that the two also talked about increased Russian activity in the Middle East and agreed to meet later this month at the UN General Assembly in New York.

Assurances by the US administration come just as President Obama has guaranteed that the US Senate will not undermine the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. Yesterday it was reported that Obama has gained the support of 41 US Senators, ensuring not only that his veto of any Congressional resolution against the deal would stand, but that Senate democrats could even block such a vote from even coming to the Senate floor. However, Democratic Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid refused to speak to whether he would sustain the 41-vote block to do so. Two Senators – Democrat Maria Cantwell and Republican Susan Collins – remain undecided about their vote on the Iran deal.

As Congress seems like it will not reject the Iran deal, a campaign is being launched to outlaw public investment in companies that do business with Iran. The Times of Israel reports that the Defund Iran initiative will first focus on Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Missouri and Ohio. Some 30 states across the US have laws or policies that force divestiture from Iran.