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Sharpton calls for black churches to lobby on Iran deal

by Mark Hensch - 08/15/15 2:26 PM ET

The Rev. Al Sharpton will push America’s black churches to lobby in favor of the Iran nuclear deal, a new report says.

Sharpton is launching his push backing President Obama’s pact with Tehran this weekend, according to The Huffington Post.

“I am calling on ministers in black churches nationwide to go to their pulpits Sunday and have their parishioners call their senators and congressmen to vote yes on the Iran nuclear plan,” he said Friday.

{mosads}“We have a disproportionate interest, being that if there is a war, our community is always disproportionately part of the armed services, and that a lot of the debate is by people who will not have family members who will be at risk,” Sharpton added.

He also argued Friday that his efforts would counter a coordinated national effort against Obama’s historic diplomatic achievement.

“There needs to be a balance in this,” he said. “Clearly lobbyists and others like AIPAC are pushing on their side, and there needs to be an organized effort on the other side.”

“A lot of Democrats, I think, should have to consider how their voters will feel in their base vote,” the reverend added.

Sharpton also noted Friday that he has already contacted Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) and other New York-area Democrats about backing the accord.

He praised Booker earlier this month after the senator tweeted anti-war lyrics from rapper Tupac Shakur and encouraged him to back the Iran deal.

“Kudos to Senator @CoryBooker for standing firm,” Sharpton tweeted on Aug. 4. “I stand beside him in supporting @POTUS with the #IranDeal.”

Congress is currently within a 60-day window for reviewing the nuclear deal’s details. They will then vote on a resolution either approving or disapproving the landmark diplomatic agreement.

Obama is currently pressuring lawmakers to support the controversial agreement amid skepticism over its details. At issue is whether the pact prevents Iran from developing an atomic weapons arsenal.

It reduces economic sanctions on Tehran in exchange for greater restrictions on its nuclear energy capabilities.

Tehran has promised it is accepting more frequent nuclear inspections and caps on its centrifuge and uranium stockpiles in exchange for the deal’s financial concessions.

Secretary of State John Kerry announced the U.S. and its allies had reached a satisfying agreement with Iran in Vienna last month.

Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia aided his diplomatic efforts at the bargaining table with Iranian leadership before the pact’s completion.

—This story was updated on Aug. 16 at 9:42 a.m.

Tags Al Sharpton