WASHINGTON, Jan 14: US President Barack Obama has said that the landmark nuclear deal reached between the P5+1 countries and Iran offers “extraordinary opportunities” for the Islamic republic and its people.
“If Iran is willing to walk through the door of opportunity that’s presented to them, then I have no doubt that it can open up extraordinary opportunities for Iran and its people,” Obama told reporters at the White House.
“If they fail to walk through this door of opportunity, then we are in position to reverse any interim agreement and put in place additional pressure to make sure that Iran does not obtain a nuclear weapon,” he warned.
Obama said the agreement allows them to have the time and space to negotiate the more comprehensive deal that could solve diplomatically what has been the long-running concern around Iran’s nuclear programme.
“This interim agreement is the result of concerted international action – including unprecedented sanctions – that brought Iran to the table and allows us now to halt their programme as we enter into intensive discussions around what would be a sustainable, comprehensive, long-term deal,” he emphasised.
“It’s going to be difficult, it’s going to be challenging, but ultimately this is how diplomacy should work,” he said.
Obama also urged the Congress to give diplomacy a chance with regard to the nuclear weapons program of Iran.
“My preference is for peace and diplomacy, and this is one of the reasons why I’ve sent a message to Congress that now is not the time for us to impose new sanctions; now is the time for us to allow the diplomats and technical experts to do their work,” he said.
“We will be able to monitor and verify whether or not the interim agreement is being followed through on, and if it is not, we’ll be in a strong position to respond.
“But what we want to do is give diplomacy a chance and give peace a chance, and I am confident that I speak not just for myself but for our P5+1 partners that they think this is an opportunity that we should not miss,” Obama said.
State Department Deputy Spokesperson Marie Harf said any effort to impose new sanctions on Iran would derail the peace process.
“We would make the case to Congress that for all of the people that have talked about diplomacy and wanting a diplomatic solution here, we are making concrete and tangible progress,” she said.
White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said this agreement gives an opportunity to resolve the issue between the international community and Iran peacefully, which is the preferred way that it would be resolved. (AGENCIES)
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