WASHINGTON, Nov 14: President Barack Obama sought to reassure skeptical US lawmakers that any easing of sanctions on Iran that emerges from negotiations could easily be reversed and ‘ramped back up’ if Tehran fails to curb its nuclear program.
In his most direct appeal yet for more time to pursue a diplomatic deal with Iran, Obama urged Congress to hold off on imposing any new sanctions despite concerns on Capitol Hill and among US allies Israel and Saudi Arabia that he is giving away too much.
Obama spoke a day after Vice President Joe Biden, Secretary of State John Kerry and other top US officials warned senators that implementing new sanctions could scuttle the delicate negotiations between Iran and six world powers due to resume in Geneva next Wednesday.
Some lawmakers said after Wednesday’s meetings they were not convinced, and there was no immediate sign that Obama – seeking better ties with Iran after more than three decades of estrangement – had won converts yesterday either.
‘If we’re serious about pursuing diplomacy, then there’s no need for us to add new sanctions on top of the sanctions that are already very effective, and that brought them (the Iranians) to the table in the first place,’ Obama told a White House news conference.
‘Now, if it turns out they can’t deliver, they can’t come to the table in a serious way and get this issue resolved, the sanctions can be ramped back up,’ he said.
An initial agreement seemed close last week, when Kerry made an unexpected trip to the talks in Switzerland. But the negotiators failed to reach a deal and are returning for another round of talks.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned on Wednesday that a ‘bad deal’ with Iran could lead to war. His aides challenged US assertions that Iran was being offered only limited relief from sanctions.
Underscoring the many obstacles, US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel staunchly defended Obama’s approach. ‘I felt sorry for Secretary Kerry because so many people have jumped into this (saying), ‘Well he didn’t get anything and he didn’t get a deal.’ Wait a minute!’ Hagel told a defense conference.
‘We have political issues. Our partners have political issues,’ he said. ‘So this is going to take time if we’re going to be able to move to somewhere onto a higher … Plain of possibility.’ (AGENCIES)
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