@trucker
IMO, the our allies have approved it because they have a real need to trade with Iran. They are not sitting on the large amounts of oil and gas that we are. And their economies are in trouble. Not that ours isn't, but we have many more resources to use to get us out of trouble. When the sanctions come off, there will be a great, sucking vacuum of infrastructure needs in Iran. And our allies can fill that vacuum with their goods in exchange for oil.
@Posterguy
You are right. I think we were negotiating as much with our allies as with the Iranians. Our allies NEED Iran. We don't. Yes, they are worried about Iran getting the bomb, but they are more worried about helping out their own economies.
I think that this is bigger than just wanting to have something for the Dems to talk about during the next election cycle. My guess is that Kerry & Co. are hoping that, if we have a deal, we can at least keep talking with the Iranians and keep some level of oversight on what they are doing. And, when you are the lone country at the table wanting stronger terms for the deal, and everyone else is trying to get the deal done and are willing to "bend over and take it" so they can trade with Iran, you may have to take what you can get.
I would bet that there were as many negotiations with our allies as there were with the Iranians.
JMO