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The deal with Iran has encountered plenty of opposition, from within Congress to the streets
US Secretary of State John Kerry has defended a nuclear deal with Iran, calling it the “only viable option” to a peaceful resolution of the issue.
He told the US Senate’s Foreign Relations Committee: “We set out to dismantle [Iran’s] ability to build a nuclear weapon and we achieved that.”
Mr Kerry is expected to face tough questions as Congress reviews the deal over the coming weeks.
Many Republicans say last week’s accord conceded too much to Iran.
Opponents within Congress could reject the agreement, although President Obama could veto their decision.
Negotiations between Iran and six world powers – the US, UK, France, China, Russia and Germany – began in 2006.
The powers suspected Iran of pursuing a clandestine nuclear weapons programme, but Tehran has always insisted its nuclear ambitions are for peaceful purposes.
Scepticism
As part of the deal, Iran has agreed to rein in its nuclear activity and accept a mechanism for inspections by nuclear officials in return for the lifting of international sanctions.
But those sanctions cannot be lifted while Congress is discussing the deal – until 17 September at the earliest.
Thursday’s committee meeting gives Mr Kerry – along with Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz and Treasury Secretary Jack Lew – the chance to make a case to lawmakers to pass the deal.
But the three cabinet officials are likely to encounter some tough questioning with committee members wanting more detail on the provision of inspections and lifting of sanctions.
Could US Congress torpedo the deal?
- Congress has 60 days to review the agreement
- During that time, President Obama cannot lift the sanctions Congress has imposed on Iran
- Congress can reject the deal, and keep the sanctions in place, but Mr Obama can veto that
- It would need a two-thirds majority to overturn the veto, which is unlikely
Iran: Now a business opportunity?
Bob Corker, the Republican chairman of the foreign relations committee, opened the meeting by telling Mr Kerry that he had expertly prepared the ground for Iran to build a nuclear weapon.
“I believe you’ve been fleeced,” he told him.
House Speaker John Boehner has already vowed Republicans would “do everything possible to stop” the agreement.
Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell said: “It’s always the administration, not Congress, that carries the burden of proof in a debate of this nature.
“And it seems the administration… has a long way to go with Democrats and Republicans alike”.
A number of Democrats have said they do not know how they will vote, including Ben Cardin, the committee’s most senior Democrat, who said he had “many areas of concern”.
BBC