[An Nahar] U.S. President Barack ObamaRepublicans can come along for the ride, but they've got to sit in the back...
warned Saturday that an "ideal" agreement to eliminate "every nut and bolt" of Iran's disputed nuclear program was not a realistic goal.
But he argued that the best possible available agreement with Tehran was likely to be better than the alternatives, and it was therefore imperative to try to secure one.
Obama, speaking at the Brookings Institution's Saban Forum in Washington, said a deal was possible that included enough verification safeguards to assure foreign powers Tehran could not build a nuclear bomb.
He indicated that could include a very "modest" option for Iran to enrich uranium as part of a peaceful nuclear program under intense scrutiny by outside observers that would ensure Tehran was kept from "breakout" capacity needed to race to build an atomic weapon.
"If we could create an option in which Iran eliminated every single nut and bolt of their nuclear program and foreswore the possibility of ever having a nuclear program, and for that matter got rid of all its military capabilities, I would take it," Obama said.
"But I want to make sure everybody understands it -- that particular option is not available, so as a consequence, what we have to do is make a decision, as to given the options available, what is the best way for us to assure Iran does not get a nuclear weapon?"
Obama noted likely criticism from Israel of any final deal that did not eliminate all of Iran's nuclear infrastructure as he laid out a pragmatic case for the negotiations.
"One can envision an ideal world in which Iran said 'we will destroy every element or facility and you name it it is all gone.'"