Obama Praises the Power of 'Smart Diplomacy' Towards Iran

Barack Obama, the President of the United States, welcomed the implementation of the nuclear agreement with Iran and the prisoner exchange between the two countries on Sunday, praising the power of 'smart diplomacy' in resolving these two issues. In his speech marking the implementation of the nuclear agreement and the release of American prisoners in Iran, Mr. Obama emphasized that these achievements are the result of 'smart diplomacy' and a commitment to 'direct dialogue' with the enemies of the United States. The U.S. President stressed that 'direct engagement with the Iranian government, based on solid foundations, for the first time in decades, has provided an exceptional opportunity to resolve important issues.' He referred to the recent achievements of his country's diplomacy towards Iran as evidence of the correctness of his decision to engage directly with the Iranian government, adding that direct engagement with Iran has been more effective than the methods adopted in previous decades. Mr. Obama reminded that 'as President of the United States, I decided that a strong and confident America can advance its national security by engaging directly with the Iranian government. We have seen the results.' A Safer World The U.S. President further stated that 'our consultations with our allies and partners, which led to the nuclear agreement last year, prevented Iran from acquiring a nuclear bomb, thus making the region, America, and the entire world a safer place.' He added that 'we achieved this historic progress through diplomacy, without starting another war in the Middle East.' Barack Obama also emphasized that when Americans work together, they can accomplish great things, and with global leadership, we can make the world a safer and more secure place. The remarks of the U.S. President come as his Iranian counterpart, Hassan Rouhani, also spoke on Saturday, marking the implementation of the nuclear agreement, calling it the result of his decision to 'negotiate with the world' and adopt a 'win-win policy,' adding that this success is 'the fruit of steadfastness, resistance, cohesion, unity, and the support of all branches of the country and national unity.' He added that 'the JCPOA can serve as a model for resolving regional issues, meaning that two parties with disputes can resolve their differences through logic and move towards building trust.' Mr. Rouhani also noted that the world's trust in Iran is now significantly greater than before.