Now those sanctions are gone and the Iranian president will boast of his success in getting the sanctions lifted and claim that the deal has finally “recognized the nuclear activities of Iran”. But both have to promote it to influential hardliners in countries that have been enemies for decades.
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As he walked into a closed-door meeting with members of the Republican-controlled House, Secretary of State John Kerry said he was looking forward to answering House members’ questions.
The timing of the White House’s social media offensive seems rather interesting, given that the deal will now face review in the Congress, where the Republicans are in control of the house with 245 seats.
Gilboa said Israel is likely to hold off on discussions of “compensation” in the form of increased military aid until later to avoid signaling to Congress that it accepts the agreement. This fall it will determine whether to agree to the terms of the agreement which seeks to curb Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
Referring to long-standing restrictions on US trade with Iran, Kerry noted that the “primary embargo remains in place”.
Democratic U.S. Representative Jim Himes said he had not made up his mind, but “Secretary Kerry gave a very, very strong defense of the deal”.
“The Iran deal has a geopolitical impact and also an economic impact on the European Union”, said Austria’s Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz, who plans to visit Iran in September. “I don’t see how a member of Congress could vote for an agreement not knowing what the full scope of the agreement actually is”.
A warm glow following the Vienna agreement is fading.
AIPAC is also conducting a national television advertising campaign sponsored by allied groups such as Citizens for a Nuclear Free Iran, U.S.pro-Israel sources said. Many experts from across the political spectrum are skeptical, and for something as serious as a nuclear weapons program we are left with risky uncertainty.
“It is a balanced deal that means Iran won’t get an atomic bomb”, said French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius.
Respondents in his country were the most concerned about Iran breaking the agreement, with two thirds of Americans saying they would approve U.S. military action if evidence of nuclear weapons development is found.
Despite concerns from several Gulf Arab states, on Monday the UN Security Council unanimously passed a resolution endorsing the deal with Iran, a key step on the path towards lifting sanctions.
Since Salman became king in January, he has tried to build a Sunni coalition against Iran’s regional allies, boosting support for rebels against Syria’s president Bashar al-Assad and waging war against Yemen’s Houthi militia.
Carter met with the king as well as his defense minister, Mohammad bin Salman Al Saud, Wednesday in the Red Sea city of Jedda. He said the nuclear agreement will further embolden Tehran to meddle in regional affairs, igniting possible wars, including direct confrontation between Riyadh and Tehran.
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In remarks to the nation on July 18, Khamenei said the nuclear deal would not change Tehran’s policy toward the “arrogant” government of the United States.
