Faced with a Republican onslaught and a mixed American public opinion, President Barack Obama has launched a vigorous defence of the Iran nuclear deal by asserting that the only alternative to this painstaking diplomatic effort is the risk of more war in West Asia.
Asserting that the deal cuts off every single pathway for an Iranian nuclear push, Obama told a nationally televised news conference that the agreement has thrown up the possibility of peacefully resolving a major threat to regional and international security.
“Without a deal, we risk even more war in the Middle East, and other countries in the region would feel compelled to pursue their own nuclear programs, threatening a nuclear arms race in the most volatile region in the world,” Obama said.
Even as Obama began a 60-day campaign to win over lawmakers and skeptical segments of the American populace, there is clear optimism within the administration that the Republican-controlled Congress will not be able to thwart the deal.
Obama has already made it clear that he would veto any Republican-inspired rejection of the deal, and White House officials are confident that the Congressional heads would just not be able to mop up the requisite two-thirds majority to override the presidential veto.
Ahead of the Congressional debate, which is expected to gather steam only after its August recess, Obama said, “As we go forward, it’s important for everybody to remember the alternative and the fundamental choice that this moment represents.”
While the deal cuts off every single pathway for an Iranian nuclear weapons programme, its absence could enable Tehran to move closer to a nuclear bomb, Obama said, asserting: “With this deal, we gain unprecedented, around-the-clock monitoring of Iran’s key nuclear facilities and the most comprehensive and intrusive inspection and verification regime ever negotiated. Without a deal, those inspections go away, and we lose the ability to closely monitor Iran’s programme and detect any covert nuclear weapons programme.”
“With this deal, if Iran violates its commitments, there will be real consequences. Nuclear-related sanctions that have helped to cripple the Iranian economy will snap back into place. Without a deal, the international sanctions regime will unravel, with little ability to re-impose them,” Obama added.