President Obama Thursday hailed a tentative agreement struck between six world powers and Iran that would limit Tehran’s nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions against the Middle Eastern nation.
“The United States together with our allies and partners has reached a historic understanding with Iran, which if fully implemented, will prevent it from obtaining a nuclear weapon,” Obama said from the Rose Garden of possibly reaching a final agreement before the June 30 deadline.
“It is a good deal, a deal that meets our core objectives. This deal is not based on trust. It is based on unprecedented verification.”
U.S. officials said the initial understanding represented a major breakthrough in talks that stalled in Switzerland in recent days.
However, many questions remain as both the Iranians and Western powers begin drafting the terms of a lasting accord, including how quickly sanctions would be lifted and how weapons inspectors could ensure that Iran was living up to the parameters of the deal.
Administration officials say that Iran would begin receiving relief from sanctions as soon as inspectors confirm compliance with the terms of the agreement. The president said the sanctions relief would take place in phases.
Western nations insist that sanctions could easily be put back in place if Iran does not cooperate as promised.
The White House is attempting to keep Congress from imposing new sanctions on Iran before a deal is potentially finalized at the end of June.
It is not clear if the framework is enough to convince lawmakers to hold off on such economic penalties.
For Obama, an Iran deal represents arguably the largest item on his second-term wish list. The White House sees such a development as the fulfillment of Obama’s pledge as a presidential candidate in 2008 to re-launch talks with Iran.
Republicans are arguing that Obama’s position is naïve and that he is making too many concessions to Iran. And GOP lawmakers say that Obama cannot ease sanctions on Iran unilaterally, at least in the long-term.
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif told reporters that Tehran would limit development of uranium-enrichment centrifuges to one site, Natanz. The P5 plus 1 nations — France, Germany, Great Britain, Russia, China and the U.S. — agreed tentatively that two-thirds of Iran’s current enrichment capacity would be suspended and monitored for 10 years.
For Obama, Thursday represented the beginning of a difficult sales pitch, both at home and abroad.
“If Iran cheats, the world will know it,” Obama said, speaking directly to skeptics. “Our work is not yet done. The deal has not been signed.”
Secretary of State John Kerry spoke in Lausanne, Switzerland, soon after Obama finished speaking in Washington.
“Today I can tell you that the political understanding — with details — that we have reached is a solid foundation for the good deal we are seeking,” Kerry said.
“There will be no sunset to the deal that we are working to finalize.”
And Obama made a direct appeal to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has been at odds with the White House and insists that such an agreement imperils Israel’s national security.
“If in fact Prime Minister Netanyahu is looking for the most effective way to ensure Iran doesn’t get a nuclear weapon, this is the best option,” Obama claimed.
“I will be speaking with the prime minister today to make clear that there will be no daylight, there is no daylight when it comes to our support for Israel’s security and our concerns about Iran’s destabilizing policies and threats towards Israel.”
