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Kerry defends Iran deal to Congress; Tehran rebuffs Peres overture
US Secretary of State John Kerry yesterday appealed to Congressional lawmakers not to adopt further sanctions on Iran or risk unravelling the interim nuclear deal struck with Tehran in Geneva last month.
Both Republicans and Democrats have raised concerns over the interim agreement between the P5+1 powers (US, UK, France, Russia, China and Germany) and Iran, which would see Tehran restrict some aspects of its nuclear development in return for limited sanctions relief. They have suggested Iran should not be trusted and bipartisan support has emerged for the introduction of tighter sanctions if Iran reneges, as the best route towards Tehran’s compliance.
However, speaking to the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Kerry said “We are asking you to give our negotiators and our experts the time and the space to do their jobs and that includes asking you while we negotiate that you hold off imposing new sanctions.”Kerry clarified, “I am not saying never” to further sanctions, but that “We are at a crossroads, we are at one of those hinge-points in history,” between a possible “enduring resolution” and “continued hostility and potential conflict.”
The Financial Times says that Kerry’s plea may have made some impact, with Tim Johnson, chairman of the Senate banking committee quoted saying that Kerry “made a strong case” and that “I am inclined to… hold off on committee action for now.”
Meanwhile, AFP reports that Iran’s Foreign Ministry has rejected the suggestion by Israel’s President Shimon Peres on Sunday, that he would be prepared to meet Iranian President Hassan Rouhani. Iranian foreign ministry spokeswoman, Marzieh Afkham is quoted saying “There has not been nor will there be any change on Iran’s stance and views regarding the Zionist regime,” describing Israel as a “completely illegitimate” regime.
Speaking yesterday in the southern Israeli town of Dimona, Israel’s Defence Minister Moshe Ya’alon warned that Tehran’s “regime must not have military nuclear ability,” as it is “focused on defeating Western society.”