President Obama is set to deliver a speech at American University next week in order to galvanize congressional support for the U.S.-Iran nuclear deal.

Last month, Obama announced that the U.S., Russia, China, the U.K., France, and Germany had reached an agreement with Iran. The world powers agreed to lift economic sanctions in exchange for limits on the development of the Islamic republic's nuclear program over the next 10 years. Under the deal, Iran will also be allowed to sell oil to the U.S. once again.

However, Republicans slammed Obama's announcement about the deal, arguing that Iran would use some of the newfound money to fund terrorism. Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas warned that the Obama administration will "become the leading financier of terrorism against America in the world," during a July 15 Fox News interview. "I've heard this referred to before as the 'Jihadist Stimulus Bill,'" added the 2016 presidential candidate.

Likewise, Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee controversially said the deal would be equivalent to leading Israelis "to the door of the oven" due to Iran's threats toward the Jewish state, reports The Hill.

In order to persuade enough lawmakers in Congress to support the July 14 agreement and keep the deal from unraveling, Obama will make his case in a speech Wednesday at American University in Washington, D.C., White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest announced on Friday, reports The Wall Street Journal.

The White House effort to sell the deal to Congress and to the public hinges on the president's ability to argue that the diplomatic agreement will prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon without going to war. 

Congress is expected to vote on whether to approve or reject the deal in September following a 60-day review. Obama, however, has promised to issue a veto if Congress votes to reject it.