Critics Say US Officials Promised ‘Anytime, Anywhere’ Inspections In Iran
Secretary of State John Kerry doubled down on the controversial Iran nuclear deal Tuesday, telling lawmakers that there was not a better deal available to negotiators and that since 2003 Iran has not pursued a nuclear bomb to the best of America’s knowledge.
The former generals and admirals say in their letter that the nuclear deal wasnot based on trust in Iran but imposed tough standards and verification and sanctions for failure to comply.
“It’s a setback, but I don’t think it means it’s a failure for the deal”, Boroujerdi said.
Regarding Tel Aviv’s opposition to the agreement, Emanuel noted that the United States would increase its military aid to Israel following the passage of the accord in Congress in September.
Last week, President Barack Obama said that it was not a hard decision to endorse the agreement.
The White House’s behavior is especially disappointing given the way the negotiations unfolded. “But the U.S. has a good weapon there, which is what’s called the secondary sanctions, which would say to HSBC, a big British bank…” Chuck Schumer, a top Democrat in the Senate who is in line to become the party’s leader when Harry Reid retires.
Kerry said at a Reuters Newsmaker event on August 11 that by walking away from nuclear deal “as Congress wants to do, will have a profound negative impact on people’s sense of American leadership and reliability”.
The Obama administration is confident it can get enough Democrats on Capitol Hill to support the Iran deal, despite prominent rejections of the deal from Sen.
‘And if the deal is rejected by America, ‘ it said, ‘the Iranians could have a nuclear weapon within a year.
“There is no better option to prevent an Iranian nuclear weapon”, the letter said.
“You can squabble maybe with the choice of words”, Kerry said, when asked about Obama’s comments.
Emanuel, who served as Obama’s chief of staff during the first two years of his presidency, during which time the administration began exploring diplomatic entreaties with Iran, said that the resulting agreement met the thresholds initially envisioned.
Schumer also said that sanctions aimed at companies that do business with Iran could force US allies and trade partners back to the negotiating table.
This agreement can only leave Americans speechless, especially with Iran now saying “our policy toward the arrogant U.S. government will not change at all“. One of the main criticisms of the deal is that providing Iran with sanctions relief will place Israel under an existential terrorist threat.
But the letter’s arguments could well sway wavering Democrats in both chambers to sustain a promised presidential veto if their GOP colleagues vote to scrap the accord. Lawmakers would then have to find enough votes to override the president.
“I will vote to disapprove the agreement, not because I believe war is a viable or desirable option, nor to challenge the path of diplomacy“, he wrote.