WASHINGTON (AP) —

Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet of Colorado is backing the nuclear deal with Iran, another boost for the White House as it aims to bottle up a disapproval resolution in the Senate.

Bennet tells The Denver Post the agreement is flawed but represents an important step toward the objectives of preventing Iran from attaining a nuclear weapon and avoiding war in the Middle East.

Bennet's announcement makes 38 Democratic and independent senators in favor of the international deal that seeks to erode Iran's nuclear program in exchange for relief from economic sanctions.

Supporters now stand three votes shy of the number needed to block passage of a GOP disapproval resolution set to come to a vote in the Senate next week.

Bennet is the most vulnerable Senate Democrat, up for re-election next year in a battleground state, and so his stance had been closely watched.