Both Rouhani and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif referred to the dispute over Iran's nuclear program as an "unnecessary crisis". Zarif said the deal was "not perfect for anybody'', but that it was the "best achievement possible that could be reached".| Didn't we say that about the 1994 North Korean deal? That turned out well... |
o remove two-thirds of installed centrifuges and store them under international supervision
o get rid of 98% of its enriched uranium
o accept that sanctions would be rapidly restored if the deal was violated
o permanently give the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) access "where necessary when necessary"
Sanctions relief would be gradual, Obama said, with an arms embargo remaining in place for five years and an embargo on missiles for eight years.
Separately, the IAEA and Iran said they had signed a roadmap to resolve outstanding issues.
In a televised address, Obama insisted the deal would make the world "safer and more secure", and provided for a rigorous verification regime. "This deal is not built on trust - it is built on verification," he said.
Trust but verify. Who said that, Champ?
Immediately afterwards, Rouhani gave his own televised address, in which he said the prayers of Iranians had "come true".
He said the deal would lead to the removal of all sanctions, adding: "The sanctions regime was never successful, but at the same time it affected people's lives.' After 12 years, world powers had finally "recognized the nuclear activities of Iran", he said.
| Updates at 2:38 p.m. ET: The Times of Israel has what is claimed to be the full text of the 159-page agreement here. Netanyahu announced that Israel is not bound by the agreement here. An Nahar has a round up of responses here, and points out that President Obama ...vowed to veto any Congressional effort to block the deal, reached between Tehran and the United States, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany. Interesting times, ladies and gentlemen. |
| Remember, Congress passed legislation that gave up the Senate's right to review the treaty and vote on it with a 2/3 majority. Now it takes a 2/3 majority in both houses to STOP it. The Pubs then will wring their hands piously. Primary the bastards, every one of them. |
