A window of possibility has opened in Iran nuclear talks: Kerry
US Secretary of State John Kerry says a mutual understanding reached in Switzerland on Thursday between Iran and the P5+1 is a window for a potentially historic final agreement.
The P5+1 – the US, Britain, France, China, Russia and Germany – reached an outline of an agreement with Iran over its civilian nuclear work that would lift all international sanctions imposed against the Islamic Republic in exchange for certain steps Tehran will take with regard to its nuclear program.
“What we did was open a window to a possibility," Kerry said on Friday in an interview with ABC News, adding that the unclear understanding with Iran paves the way for a final agreement but everything could still fall apart if the two sides would not be able to hammer out the specifics by the end of June.
He denounced Republican and Israeli opponents of the Iran deal as the people who “don't have an alternative."
US President Barack Obama has hailed the "historic understanding" with Iran, but Republicans in Congress have condemned it, with some saying lifting sanctions on Iran would provoke Israel into an armed conflict with the Islamic Republic. Israeli officials have called it a “historic mistake which will make the world far more dangerous.”
Kerry also warned the Republican-dominated Congress against taking any action that could upend work toward a final deal.
"I think it would be very irresponsible to make politics trump facts, science and the realities of what is possible here," Kerry said of the potential sanctions Republicans have vowed to impose against Iran to sabotage the final agreement.
"New sanctions now would clearly be unnecessary given what we've been able to achieve," Kerry said.
Iran and the P5+1 adopted a joint statement on Thursday following days of marathon talks in the Swiss city of Lausanne.
According to the framework agreement, none of Iran’s nuclear facilities as well as the previous activities will be stopped, shut down or suspended and Iran will continue with its nuclear activities in all its nuclear facilities including Natanz, Fordow, Isfahan and Arak.
Based on the agreement, all international sanctions imposed against the Islamic Republic would be lifted in exchange for certain steps Tehran will take to limit its nuclear program.
In a televised address to the nation on Friday, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said the nuclear understanding is a step toward interaction with the world and all those countries that want to “work with the people of Iran within the framework” of mutual respect and interests.
“There is no doubt that cooperation and interaction will benefit all,” he said.
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