John Kerry Expresses Hope for Congressional Approval of Nuclear Deal with Iran

John Kerry, the U.S. Secretary of State, said on Wednesday, April 15, at the G7 industrialized nations meeting that he is optimistic that the final nuclear agreement with Iran will be approved by the U.S. Congress, given the steps taken in Washington. According to the Associated Press, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the German Foreign Minister, quoted his American counterpart to reporters, stating, "The point is that if we can reach an agreement based on the overall framework, then the issue is whether you can get it through the U.S. Congress." President Barack Obama, facing pressure from Republicans and some Democrats in Congress, has agreed to allow Congress to review and approve the final agreement with Iran. Kerry, who was in Germany, stated on Wednesday, "We reached an agreement with the U.S. Congress yesterday. We are confident that the President can secure the final agreement and make the world a safer place." The G7 foreign ministers welcomed the cooperation agreement reached regarding Iran's nuclear activities in Lausanne, Switzerland, and urged Iran to cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and implement verification measures. According to Reuters, the G7 foreign ministers in Lübeck, Germany, said, "We urge Iran to fully cooperate with the IAEA and clarify all outstanding issues, especially those related to potential military activities." Following the general Lausanne agreement between Iran and the P5+1 countries, Iran is expected to take necessary steps to prove the peaceful nature of its nuclear activities in exchange for the lifting of sanctions against Tehran. The Lausanne agreement serves as a working basis for drafting an executive directive, which is currently under negotiation. The G7 consists of France, the U.S., the U.K., Germany, Japan, Canada, and Italy. Previously, Russia was also part of this group, known as the G8, but its membership was suspended in response to the annexation of Crimea by Russia. The G7 foreign ministers also expressed hope that within the next three months, questions regarding Iran's nuclear activities would be answered to ensure that this nuclear program is conducted for peaceful purposes and will not lead to the production of nuclear weapons.