Democratic Senator Bob Menendez is coming out against the Iran nuclear deal. The New Jersey senator joins New York's Chick Schumer in opposing the deal. The Washington Free Beacon obtained Menendez's remarks in advance.

“I have looked into my own soul and my devotion to principle may once again lead me to an unpopular course, but if Iran is to acquire a nuclear bomb, it will not have my name on it,” Menendez said in a major address Tuesday afternoon, according to an advance copy of the text obtained by the Washington Free Beacon.

“It is for these reasons that I will vote to disapprove the agreement and, if called upon, would vote to override a veto,” Menendez said.

CNN not only confirms the reports but spoke with the senator about his decision.

In an interview on CNN's "The Lead" after his speech, the New Jersey senator said the agreement was "aspirational" and that the U.S. was forfeiting whatever leverage it had left. When asked if maintaining the current sanctions regime was similarly "aspirational," Menendez said the status quo was sustainable.

"It will take work as it's always taken," Menendez said, stressing that the U.S. could retain the existing, pre-deal penalties. "The Congress has on many times rejected multilateral agreements, and the world hasn't come to an end."

President Barack Obama needs 34 senators to back the deal in order to override any veto from Congress. By Reuters count only 23 of 44 Democrats in the Senate have come out in favor of the deal so far.