Obama: If the nuclear deal is rejected, we give the initiative to Iran

Barack Obama, the President of the United States, reiterated his defense of the nuclear deal with Iran during a video conference with the Jewish community in the country on Friday, September 6. In this video conference, organized by two Jewish organizations in the U.S., Obama stated: "If we reject this deal, we give the initiative to Iran. They can portray the U.S. and Israel as the disruptors of the agreement and isolate us." Iran and six world powers reached a comprehensive agreement in Vienna on July 14 to resolve the Islamic Republic's nuclear dispute. According to this agreement, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Iran's nuclear program is limited, and in return, most international sanctions against Tehran will be lifted. The U.S. Congress is set to review this agreement by September 17. However, Republicans, who hold the majority in Congress, oppose this deal. Obama noted these oppositions, saying: "It's not that the opponents (of the deal) want war. But a careful examination of our options shows that if we reject this deal, we are heading towards that (war)." Nevertheless, the U.S. President emphasized that the nuclear deal with Iran could close all pathways for Iran to access a nuclear bomb for at least 15 years. He stated that the nuclear deal with Iran implements the most unprecedented inspections and verifications in the history of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty regarding Iran's nuclear program. Obama said: "We do not trust Iran. They have a hostile approach towards the U.S., are anti-Semitic, and deny the Holocaust. It is a government with an unpleasant approach. But this agreement is not based on trust; it is based on verification." The U.S. President reiterated that whenever Iran violates the agreement, all multilateral and international sanctions against it will be enforced. Obama further stated that any president who comes to power in the next fifteen years in the U.S. will be in a much better position against Iran because, with the agreement, Iran's nuclear program will be contained by that time and will not progress. In another part of this video conference, referring to his electoral promises regarding preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons and using a diplomatic approach to resolve this dispute in 2008, he said that the nuclear agreement achieved fulfills those promises. Obama emphasized: "Iran is a regional power, not a superpower. Our top priority is that Iran will not gain access to nuclear weapons." In another part of his speech, he emphasized the close relationship between Israel and the U.S., stating: "The friendship and interest between the American and Israeli people will not disappear." The U.S. President noted: "The unprecedented relationship with Israel has enabled this country to have a stronger military power." He stressed that the implementation of the nuclear deal with Iran will improve U.S.-Israel relations. Obama mentioned that the United States and Israel have been negotiating security matters for months. He stated: "We have been negotiating with the Israeli government for several months about the importance of working together to enhance our security cooperation." The U.S. President added that these collaborations could include discussions about the next generation of missile defense programs, improving intelligence matters, and how to counter Iran's proxy networks. Meanwhile, Josh Earnest, the White House spokesman, said on Friday that they are confident that the Iran deal will not face problems in Congress. He mentioned in a press conference that 30 U.S. senators support the mentioned agreement, stating: "We have been able to create a point of certainty within our own ranks." For the Iranian nuclear agreement to pass through the U.S. Congress, a vote from 41 senators is needed, but if both the House of Representatives and the Senate vote negatively on this agreement and Barack Obama vetoes it, a vote from 34 senators is sufficient to uphold this veto.