WEEKLY ADDRESS: A Comprehensive, Long-Term Deal with Iran
Source: White House
In this week's address, the President explained the comprehensive, long-term deal announced earlier this week that will prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. This agreement cuts off every pathway that Iran could take to develop a nuclear weapon, implements unprecedented monitoring and inspections of Irans key nuclear facilities, and ensures that if Iran violates these terms, the strict sanctions previously imposed on the country will snap back into place. This is a good deal that demonstrates that American diplomacy can bring about real and meaningful change that makes our country, and the world, safer and more secure.
Read more: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/weekly-address
This week, the United States and our international partners finally achieved something that decades of animosity has not a deal that will prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
This deal will make America and the world safer and more secure. Still, youre going to hear a lot of overheated and often dishonest arguments about it in the weeks ahead. So today, I want to take a moment to take those on one by one, and explain what this deal does and what it means.
First, youll hear some critics argue that this deal somehow makes it easier for Iran to obtain a nuclear weapon. Now, if you think it sounds strange that the United States, Great Britain, France, Germany, Russia, China, and some of the worlds best nuclear scientists would agree to something like that, youre right. This deal actually closes off Irans pathway to a nuclear weapon. Today, Iran has enough nuclear material to produce up to 10 nuclear weapons. With this deal, theyll have to ship 98% of that material out of the country leaving them with a fraction of what it takes to make even one weapon. With this deal, theyll have to repurpose two key nuclear facilities so they cant produce materials that could be used for a nuclear weapon. So this deal actually pushes Iran further away from a bomb. And theres a permanent prohibition on Iran ever having a nuclear weapon.
Second, you might hear from critics that Iran could just ignore whats required and do whatever they want. That theyre inevitably going to cheat. Well, thats wrong, too. With this deal, we will have unprecedented, 24/7 monitoring of Irans key nuclear facilities. With this deal, international inspectors will have access to Irans entire nuclear supply chain. The verification process set up by this deal is comprehensive and it is intrusive precisely so we can make sure Iran keeps its commitments.
Third, you might hear from critics that Iran faces no consequences if it violates this deal. Thats also patently false. If Iran violates this deal, the sanctions we imposed that have helped cripple the Iranian economy the sanctions that helped make this deal possible would snap back into place promptly.
Theres a reason this deal took so long to negotiate. Because we refused to accept a bad deal. We held out for a deal that met every one of our bottom lines. And we got it.
Does this deal resolve all of the threats Iran poses to its neighbors and the world? No. Does it do more than anyone has done before to make sure Iran does not obtain a nuclear weapon? Yes. And that was our top priority from the start. Thats why its in everyones best interest to make sure this deal holds. Because without this deal, there would be no limits on Irans nuclear program. There would be no monitoring, no inspections. The sanctions we rallied the world to impose would unravel. Iran could move closer to a nuclear weapon. Other countries in the region might race to do the same. And wed risk another war in the most volatile region in the world. Thats what would happen without this deal.
On questions of war and peace, we should have tough, honest, serious debates. Weve seen what happens when we dont. Thats why this deal is online for the whole world to see. I welcome all scrutiny. I fear no questions. As Commander-in-Chief, I make no apology for keeping this country safe and secure through the hard work of diplomacy over the easy rush to war. And on Tuesday, Ill continue to press this case when I address the national convention of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Because nobody understands the true cost of war better than those whove actually served in this countrys uniform.
We have before us an historic opportunity to pursue a safer, more secure world for our children. It might not come around again in our lifetimes. Thats why were going to seize it today and keep America a beacon of hope, liberty, and leadership for generations to come.
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/weekly-address
Cha
(297,772 posts)BumRushDaShow
(129,608 posts)When I listened to this on the radio this morning, he sounded pissed at all the crap being bandied about regarding this!!!
karynnj
(59,506 posts)For many years, of Obama's Presidency, I emotionally could not have said this because of my childhood respect and admiration for JFK, who died when I was 13. However, with the deals on Iran, the opening to Cuba, the START treaty, and the climate change pact with China added to his domestic accomplishments of adding his voice at critical times to the civil rights issues of getting rid of DOMA and DADT and passing the ACA and stimulus bills that pulled the US out of an economic crisis - Obama really is a truly exceptional President on a par with FDR. This would be an amazing list even if he had reasonable support from Congress. In fact, he did ALL of this not only with little or no support from the Republicans, but against their feirce opposition on everything.
Fred Sanders
(23,946 posts)Rec. for the adult in the room. Children - including the ones in politics and power cleverly disguised as adults - are naturally resentful of the adult, which explains a lot.