Kerry to Netanyahu: Better nuclear conclusion with Iran 'fantasy'
US Secretary of State John Kerry has lashed out at the critics of the recent nuclear breakthrough with Iran, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying a better conclusion is nothing but “fantasy.”
“There’s a lot of fantasy out there about this – quote – ‘better deal.’ The fact is we spent four years putting together an agreement that had the consent of Russia, China, France, Germany, Great Britain and Iran. That is not easy,” Kerry said in his interview with PBS over the weekend.
The top US diplomat emphasized on the fact that despite what critics suggest, diplomacy was the only way to resolve differences with Iran because sanctions were ineffective and would have lost the backing of other countries sooner or later.
“They all say, ‘Oh, why don’t you crush them by sanctions?’ I’ll tell you why, because they won’t be crushed by sanctions. That’s been proven. And because we’ll lose the other people who are helping to provide those sanctions,” he added.
Kerry expressed his eagerness to speak to Congress over the recent agreement as he believed the conclusion of the nuclear talks between Iran and the P5+1 group of countries can withstand scrutiny.
“We spent four years negotiating this. This was not a rush…. There is nothing in this agreement that is based on trust,” he added.
Kerry said the negotiations that led to the conclusion were so intense that some tough issues “could have snagged the whole thing” during the final hours.
The marathon nuclear talks between Iran and the P5+1 group of nations which includes Russia, China, the United States, France, Britain and Germany came to an end on July 14, with both sides agreeing upon a Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
The JCPOA guarantees Iran’s rights to pursue its civil nuclear program in all areas, including research and development.
All anti-Iran sanctions imposed by the United Nations Security Council and the European Union are also set to be lifted immediately, once the JCPOA becomes law.
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