World powers

Merkley's backing puts supporters within reach of the 34 votes required to uphold a presidential veto of a congressional resolution disapproving the agreement, which curbs Iran's nuclear program in exchange for billions of dollars in sanctions relief.

Foreign Minister Khalid al-Attiyah made the comments in a wide-ranging interview with The Associated Press that also touched on the controversy surrounding Qatar's hosting of the 2022 World Cup and allegations of Doha's links to Islamic militant groups.

Al-Attiyah spoke from a skyscraper office overlooking the rapidly developing Qatari capital, Doha, a day after U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry met with the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council in Qatar. 

Speaking for the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council, Qatar's foreign minister said Monday that the bloc had been pleased by a presentation of the agreement from U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry. 

On that basis, he said the council welcomed the deal.

Kerry had come to Doha seeking to ease concerns about the regional implications of the deal.