Kerry in Senate: Iran Initially Had Enough Material for 10 Nuclear Bombs

John Kerry, the U.S. Secretary of State, reiterated his defense of the nuclear agreement with Iran, stating that at the beginning of negotiations, the Islamic Republic had enough material to build 10 to 12 nuclear bombs. Kerry, who appeared on Thursday alongside Ernest Moniz, the Secretary of Energy, and Jack Lew, the Secretary of the Treasury, at an important session of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, added that the United States sought to achieve a good agreement from the outset of discussions and has now accomplished that. Kerry emphasized that this agreement closes Iran's pathways to obtaining nuclear weapons, referencing the participation of five other global powers and the European Union representative in the negotiations, and told committee members, "They are not fools; they are experts." These remarks came after Republican Senator Bob Corker, the chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, expressed strong criticism of the nuclear deal with Iran, stating that the Secretary of State was "taken for a ride" by the Iranians. However, Kerry rejected these accusations, stating that at the beginning of negotiations, Iran had enough material to build 10 to 12 bombs, while it has now committed to destroying 98% of its enriched uranium stockpile, dismantling two-thirds of its centrifuges, altering the Arak heavy-water reactor structure, and implementing the Additional Protocol. Kerry also noted that at the start of negotiations, the Islamic Republic was enriching uranium up to 20% in underground facilities, but it has now committed not to do so. He clarified that Iran has the capability to produce nuclear weapons, and this knowledge cannot be destroyed by bombing. Furthermore, Kerry stated that Washington will continue to pressure Iran for the release of American prisoners and to obtain information about missing Americans in the country. He reiterated that this agreement would make Israel safer, and despite serious disagreements with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the nuclear deal, he continues to engage in dialogue with him, acknowledging Israel's concerns about the agreement, especially given Tehran's repeated threats to destroy Israel. According to Kerry, Washington aimed to eliminate Iran's capability to produce nuclear weapons and has achieved that goal. He also mentioned that representatives of the Islamic Republic had demanded the lifting of all sanctions from the beginning of negotiations, but the U.S. resisted this demand. In another part of his remarks, he stated, "Using military options to prevent Iran from accessing nuclear weapons would be a very complex action for the United States, but Washington would take such action without needing its allies." Kerry added, "If the nuclear agreement is implemented and Iran violates it, the U.S. would have more justification to take military action." When Kerry entered the Q&A session with U.S. senators, he was cheered by anti-war opponents, but the atmosphere changed after Senator Corker's criticisms. Corker, who chaired the session, told Kerry that the Iranians had "taken him for a ride" with the recent agreement. He expressed that he felt "completely frustrated" after hearing Kerry's remarks during the Q&A with House members on Wednesday. Democratic Senator Ben Cardin, a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, stated that he has not yet made a decision on voting for the nuclear agreement with Iran but added that he feels American negotiators have made significant progress, especially on the nuclear front. Cardin is considered one of the key senators for a favorable vote on the Iran nuclear agreement. In this session, Jack Lew, the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, told committee members that the U.S. international partners involved in the nuclear talks with Iran would refuse to continue economic sanctions without the implementation of this agreement if the U.S. asked them to do so. He added, "If such a thing happens, the U.S. will have neither the nuclear agreement nor effective sanctions." It is a fantasy to think that additional sanctions will force Iran to completely capitulate, said the Treasury Secretary. He emphasized, "It should not be thought that the U.S. can lead a global coalition of its partners to impose such sanctions after this agreement fails to be implemented." According to the U.S. Treasury Secretary, as long as Iran does not provide the necessary access to the International Atomic Energy Agency and answer its questions, neither U.S. sanctions nor international sanctions will be lifted. Ernest Moniz, the U.S. Secretary of Energy, also stated that the nuclear agreement was not what Tehran wanted. Moniz said that this agreement is not based on trust and that under it, the Islamic Republic's nuclear program will significantly roll back. The U.S. Secretary of Energy emphasized, "The agreement is based on science and analysis. I am confident that this is a good agreement for America." He also stated that if the Islamic Republic fails to answer the IAEA's questions by October, there will be no agreement. Republican Senator Jim Risch from Idaho, a critic of the Iran nuclear agreement, stated that anyone who believes this is a good agreement "really falls into the category of the most naive people on earth." Corker told Kerry that trusting Iran to comply with the agreement is meaningless. Risch addressed the three ministers present at the meeting, saying, "With all due respect, you gentlemen have been taken for a ride, and the American people will have to pay the price for it." Democratic Senator Barbara Boxer from California criticized the language of her Republican colleagues in the Foreign Relations Committee who said that the Iranians had taken Kerry and the representatives of the five global powers for a ride. She listed several countries that supported the nuclear agreement with Iran and stated that her Republican colleagues had been disrespectful. Boxer remarked, "If Kerry has been taken for a ride, then the whole world has been taken for a ride." The U.S. Congress has 60 days to review the nuclear agreement with Iran based on a resolution approved by Barack Obama. This deadline will end on September 17, and both chambers of Congress - the House of Representatives and the Senate - must express their views on the agreement by then. Congress cannot amend or change the details of this agreement but must approve or reject it as a whole. The nuclear agreement with Iran will be executable in 60 days unless Congress votes against it. The majority of the House of Representatives and the Senate is currently held by Republicans. Barack Obama has threatened to veto a negative vote from Congress. If two-thirds of Congress members vote, the president's veto can be overridden. According to the Associated Press, the Obama administration is seeking to garner support from 34 senators and 146 House representatives to prevent the president's veto from being overridden. Democratic representatives expressed hope after the House meeting on Wednesday that the Obama administration would succeed in this regard.