Washington (CNN) The Senate overwhelmingly passed a bill Thursday to give Congress the authority to review an emerging nuclear agreement with Iran, despite vocal opposition from some conservative Republicans who said the bill was not strong enough.

The vote was 98 to 1. The lone dissenter was freshman Tom Cotton of Arkansas, a staunch advocate against an Iran deal.

Next, the measure will go to the House, which plans to take it up next week. If passed there, it would go to President Barack Obama, who has said he would sign it so long as it didn't change dramatically from when it was approved a few weeks ago by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in a rare unanimous vote.

Sen. Robert Byrd, D-West Virginia, and McConnell enter the "Old Senate Chamber" in January 1999 to attend a bipartisan caucus to possibly establish rules and guidelines for the impeachment trial of President Bill Clinton.

Sen. Robert Byrd, D-West Virginia, and McConnell enter the "Old Senate Chamber" in January 1999 to attend a bipartisan caucus to possibly establish rules and guidelines for the impeachment trial of President Bill Clinton.

Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-Connecticut, and McConnell hammer the "first nails" into a piece of wood during a nail-driving ceremony in December 2000 on Capitol Hill. Both senators participated in the ceremony to signify the beginning of construction of the 2001 Inaugural platform on the West Front Terrace of the U.S. Capitol.

Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-Connecticut, and McConnell hammer the "first nails" into a piece of wood during a nail-driving ceremony in December 2000 on Capitol Hill. Both senators participated in the ceremony to signify the beginning of construction of the 2001 Inaugural platform on the West Front Terrace of the U.S. Capitol.

McConnell, left, Sen. Trent Lott, R-Mississippi, Vice President Dick Cheney, President George W. Bush, Sen. Strom Thurmond, R-South Carolina, and House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Illinois, are pictured during Bush's inauguration to his first term on January 20, 2001.

McConnell, left, Sen. Trent Lott, R-Mississippi, Vice President Dick Cheney, President George W. Bush, Sen. Strom Thurmond, R-South Carolina, and House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Illinois, are pictured during Bush's inauguration to his first term on January 20, 2001.

McConnell poses with wife Elaine Chao at the 128th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville in May 2002.

McConnell poses with wife Elaine Chao at the 128th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville in May 2002.

Then-Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tennessee, center, is flanked by McConnell, Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and then-Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchinson, R-Texas, as he speaks to reporters after a Senate vote in May 2005.

Then-Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tennessee, center, is flanked by McConnell, Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and then-Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchinson, R-Texas, as he speaks to reporters after a Senate vote in May 2005.

McConnell answers questions from reporters at the Capitol in September 2007.

McConnell answers questions from reporters at the Capitol in September 2007.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada, and McConnell listen during a dedication ceremony of the statue of former President Gerald Ford at the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol in May 2011.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada, and McConnell listen during a dedication ceremony of the statue of former President Gerald Ford at the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol in May 2011.

McConnell points to a stack of papers representing what he says are the regulations associated with the Affordable Care Act as he speaks at the 2013 CPAC in National Harbor, Maryland.

McConnell points to a stack of papers representing what he says are the regulations associated with the Affordable Care Act as he speaks at the 2013 CPAC in National Harbor, Maryland.

McConnell and fellow Republican Rand Paul, Kentucky's junior senator, attend an event in the East Room of the White House in July 2013.

McConnell and fellow Republican Rand Paul, Kentucky's junior senator, attend an event in the East Room of the White House in July 2013.

McConnell carries a musket onstage before his speech during the American Conservative Union's Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in National Harbor, Maryland, in March 2014.

McConnell carries a musket onstage before his speech during the American Conservative Union's Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in National Harbor, Maryland, in March 2014.

McConnell and Chao wave to supporters at a victory celebration following McConnell's victory in the Republican senatorial primary on May 20, 2014, in Louisville, Kentucky.

McConnell and Chao wave to supporters at a victory celebration following McConnell's victory in the Republican senatorial primary on May 20, 2014, in Louisville, Kentucky.

McConnell walks with "America's Got Talent" contestant Jimmy Rose to a news conference on the economic ramifications of the Environmental Protection Agency's proposed power plant rules in July 2014.

McConnell walks with "America's Got Talent" contestant Jimmy Rose to a news conference on the economic ramifications of the Environmental Protection Agency's proposed power plant rules in July 2014.

McConnell talks with supporters at a campaign rally in Hindman, Kentucky, during a two-day bus tour of the eastern part of the state in August 2014.

McConnell talks with supporters at a campaign rally in Hindman, Kentucky, during a two-day bus tour of the eastern part of the state in August 2014.

McConnell and Kentucky Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes, his Democratic opponent in the 2014 election, sit with "Kentucky Tonight" host Bill Goodman before their debate in October in Lexington.

McConnell and Kentucky Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes, his Democratic opponent in the 2014 election, sit with "Kentucky Tonight" host Bill Goodman before their debate in October in Lexington.

McConnell waves to a crowd while riding with his wife, Elaine Chao, in the Hopkins Country Veterans Day Parade in November 2014 in Madisonville, Kentucky.

McConnell waves to a crowd while riding with his wife, Elaine Chao, in the Hopkins Country Veterans Day Parade in November 2014 in Madisonville, Kentucky.

A voter gives a thumbs-down as McConnell votes in the midterm elections in November 2014 in Louisville, Kentucky.

A voter gives a thumbs-down as McConnell votes in the midterm elections in November 2014 in Louisville, Kentucky.

President Barack Obama sits beside McConnell before a meeting in the Cabinet Room at the White House on January 13.

President Barack Obama sits beside McConnell before a meeting in the Cabinet Room at the White House on January 13.

Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn, left, McConnell, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Senate Minority Leader Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nevada, pose for photos at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on March 3, the day of Netanyahu's controversial speaking engagement before a joint session of Congress.

Sen. Mitch McConnell speaks to members of the media after a weekly Senate Republican Policy Luncheon in December 2014 in Washington. For 30 years, McConnell has represented Kentucky in the Senate, and this year he went from minority leader to majority leader after the GOP swept to power in the midterm elections. Click through to see other moments from McConnell's political career.

Sen. Mitch McConnell speaks to members of the media after a weekly Senate Republican Policy Luncheon in December 2014 in Washington. For 30 years, McConnell has represented Kentucky in the Senate, and this year he went from minority leader to majority leader after the GOP swept to power in the midterm elections. Click through to see other moments from McConnell's political career.

Senate leaders and bill managers had fended off a series of amendments they considered "poison pill" proposals from Republicans on the right flank that could have scuttled the legislation. Two were defeated on roll call votes. The rest got bottled up in negotiations that ultimately went nowhere after Cotton went around his leaders and tried to force floor votes on two other controversial amendments opposed by many senators of both parties.

One would have required Iran's hardline regime to recognize Israel's right to exist as a condition for a nuclear agreement and the lifting of long-imposed sanctions against Iran.

In response, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a proponent of the bill, set up Thursday's procedural vote on the question of whether to end debate on the measure. McConnell strongly supported the bill because, like a lot of Republicans, he is deeply suspicious about whether the Obama administration will strike a tough deal with Iran.

"The Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act offers the best chance for our constituents, through the Congress they elect, to weigh in on the White House's negotiations with Iran," McConnell said on the floor. "These talks have devolved into something else altogether. Instead of ending Iran's nuclear program, the interim agreement would actually bestow international blessing for Iran to continue it."

JUST WATCHED Iranian Foreign Minister fires back at Sen. Tom Cotton Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH Iranian Foreign Minister fires back at Sen. Tom Cotton 00:31

The bill would block the President from using his authority to waive congressionally-mandated sanctions against Iran for close to two months while Congress studies an agreement and decides whether to vote on a resolution of disapproval. Still, the measure gives a strong advantage to the President to seal a deal. That's because the President could veto a disapproval resolution and then block an override effort with just 41 votes. 2016 presidential candidate Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and other Republicans were furious their leaders had agreed to the disadvantage.

In a statement following the bill's passage Thursday afternoon, Cotton said the Iran deal should be submitted as a treaty requiring a two-thirds majority vote in the Senate.

"President Obama wants to reverse this rule, requiring opponents to get a two-thirds vote to stop his dangerous deal," Cotton said. "But Congress should not accept this usurpation, nor allow the president any grounds to claim that Congress blessed his nuclear deal. I will work with Republicans and Democrats to stop a dangerous deal that would put Iran on the path to obtaining a nuclear weapon."

The magnitude of the Iran deal was not lost on senators as they prepared to vote.

"Passage of the bill will result in either forcing critical and absolutely necessary improvements in the deal now being cooked, or defeating a bad deal if one is presented," Sen. Dan Coats, R-Indiana, a member of the Intelligence Committee who is retiring from the Senate, said earlier Thursday. "The stakes are beyond calculation. I regard this to be the most consequential issue of my entire public career."