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Iran nuclear deal: Kerry defends 'only viable option' Iran nuclear deal: Better accord 'a fantasy' says Kerry
(about 1 hour later)
US Secretary of State John Kerry has defended a nuclear deal with Iran, calling it the "only viable option" for a peaceful resolution of the issue. US Secretary of State John Kerry has hit back at critics of his nuclear deal with Iran, saying it was "fantasy" to suggest a better accord was possible.
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."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."
But Republican presidential hopeful Marco Rubio told him the deal was "fundamentally flawed". Republican presidential hopeful Marco Rubio told him the deal was "fundamentally flawed".
Meanwhile, Iran's president has also been defending last week's accord. Congress has until 17 September to approve or reject the deal.
Meanwhile, Iran's president has also been defending last week's agreement, which was the result of nearly two years of intense negotiations with the P5+1 group of world powers - the US, UK, France, China and Russia plus Germany.
Hassan Rouhani, in a speech broadcast live on television, said the deal represented "a new page in history" and was wanted by the Iranian people.Hassan Rouhani, in a speech broadcast live on television, said the deal represented "a new page in history" and was wanted by the Iranian people.
Under the deal, Iran must curb its nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief. Tehran has always insisted its nuclear ambitions are peaceful and energy-related.Under the deal, Iran must curb its nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief. Tehran has always insisted its nuclear ambitions are peaceful and energy-related.
Scepticism
Mr Kerry told the committee hearing that the US administration came to the negotiating table with one clear objective - to address the issue of nuclear weapons.
He said that it was pointless to insist on dismantling Iran's whole nuclear programme, as it already had experience in nuclear technology and enough fissile material to build 10-12 nuclear bombs.
"The choice we face is between an agreement that will ensure Iran's nuclear programme is limited, rigorously scrutinised and wholly peaceful - or no deal at all."
The agreement faces strong resistance in Congress, particularly among Republicans, who have until 17 September to make a decision on whether to approve or reject the deal.
Could US Congress torpedo the deal?Could US Congress torpedo the deal?
A good deal, for now?A good deal, for now?
Iran: Now a business opportunity?Iran: Now a business opportunity?
Six key points about the nuclear crisisSix key points about the nuclear crisis
Mr Kerry - along with fellow negotiators, the Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz and Treasury Secretary Jack Lew - faced a great deal of scepticism when they appeared at Thursday's meeting. Mr Kerry told the committee hearing that the US administration came to the negotiating table with one clear objective - to address the issue of nuclear weapons.
Under the terms of the deal, he said Iran has agreed to:
Mr Kerry said that if Iran failed to comply with the agreement "we will be able to respond accordingly by reinstituting sanctions all the way up to the most draconian options that we have today".
Turning on his critics, he said any suggestion of a "better deal, some sort of unicorn arrangement involving Iran's complete capitulation" was "fantasy, plain and simple".
"The choice we face is between an agreement that will ensure Iran's nuclear programme is limited, rigorously scrutinised and wholly peaceful - or no deal at all."
But Mr Kerry - who appeared at the committee hearing along with fellow negotiators, the Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz and Treasury Secretary Jack Lew - faced scepticism from some senators.
Bob Corker, the committee's Republican chairman, opened the meeting by telling Mr Kerry he had been "fleeced".Bob Corker, the committee's Republican chairman, opened the meeting by telling Mr Kerry he had been "fleeced".
Marco Rubio said the deal was "fundamentally flawed" and would "weaken our national security and make the world a more dangerous place".Marco Rubio said the deal was "fundamentally flawed" and would "weaken our national security and make the world a more dangerous place".
He said under the deal, Iran would still be able to build long-range ballistic missiles "that know only one purpose and that is for nuclear warfare" and would provide billions "to a regime that... directly threatens the interests of the United States and our allies". Iran would still be able to build long-range ballistic missiles "that know only one purpose and that is for nuclear warfare" and would provide billions "to a regime that... directly threatens the interests of the United States and our allies", Mr Rubio said.
But Mr Kerry said it was a "fantasy" to think the US could have held out for a better deal from Iran.
Separately, two Republicans have complained that Congress has not been given access to "side deals" stuck between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency, which allegedly relate to the inspection of a key military site as well as past military activity.Separately, two Republicans have complained that Congress has not been given access to "side deals" stuck between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency, which allegedly relate to the inspection of a key military site as well as past military activity.
Susan Rice, President Obama's national security adviser, responded by saying the details of those deals "are not public but... we know their contents, we're satisfied with them and we will share the contents of those briefings in full in a classified session with the Congress". White House spokesman Josh Earnest rejected the suggestion they were "some sort of side deal", saying the agreements were critical to the overall deal.
But he did admit that the details of the agreements could not be made public because it involves sensitive nuclear information.