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Senate Democrats are emerging as a potentially major obstacle facing President Obama as he tries to build support on Capitol Hill for a nuclear deal with Iran.

Key Democrats say they are open to a bill that Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) is pushing, which the White House says could complicate talks with Iran. And one of the Senate's top-ranking Democrats is reiterating his support for the measure. If it got enough Democratic backing, Obama would not be able to stop the bill with his veto pen.

These developments, which come as Congress is in recess and just days after the United States and five other world powers reached a framework for the nuclear deal with Iran, illustrate the stiff challenges facing Obama and his team when lawmakers return to the Capitol next week.

"I do think they have some work to do to recognize that congressional oversight is appropriate," Sen. Chris Coons (Del.), one of the Democrats weighing support for Corker's bill, told The Washington Post.

[Obama makes his sales pitch for Iran nuclear deal]

Sen. Charles E. Schumer (N.Y.), the third-ranking Senate Democrat, released a statement Monday reaffirming his support for Corker's measure. Schumer is one of nine Democratic co-sponsors of the measure.

This is a very serious issue that deserves careful consideration, and I expect to have a classified briefing in the near future. I strongly believe Congress should have the right to disapprove any agreement, and I support the Corker bill which would allow that to occur," said Schumer, who has the inside track to becoming the next Senate Democratic leader.

Sen. Ben Cardin (Md.), the newly minted ranking Democrat on the Foreign Relations Committee, said in an interview with The Post that the framework of Corker's bill "is one that makes sense." Cardin said he is weighing whether to back the measure -- it would give Congress a 60-day period to review the nuclear deal before the Obama administration could suspend or remove sanctions against Iran mandated by the legislative body -- and what changes to it may be needed.

He said he is also withholding final judgment on the nuclear deal until he receives classified briefings from administration officials next week.

"I want to ask questions about the snapback of sanctions," he said.

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