Nearly 50 protesters gathered at Rep. Scott Peters‘ office in La Jolla on Wednesday to urge him to support the Obama administration’s controversial nuclear arms pact with Iran.
Organizers with MoveOn.org said it was one of 200 events nationwide intended to “stop opponents from dragging the U.S. into yet another costly, deadly war of choice.”
Peters told the group that he planned an announcement soon on his position. He said he is committed to diplomacy first but is also concerned about the long-term security of the United States and Israel.
“We ought to have learned a lesson from the Iraq war,” he said, but added that “Iran is a very dangerous place.”
The agreement with Iran negotiated by the United States, the United Kingdom, France, China, Russia and Germany ends economic sanctions against the Islamic republic in exchange for measures that prevent it from acquiring a nuclear weapon.
President Obama has argued that war is the only alternative to the deal, but it has drawn sharp criticism from Republican lawmakers and the state of Israel, and has divided the American Jewish community. Congress is expected to reject the deal, but would not have enough votes to override a presidential veto.
“This is the most important vote that I will take,” he told the group. “I’m trying to do the right thing for the country.”