Iran and six major world powers reached a nuclear deal on Tuesday, capping more than a decade of negotiations with an agreement that could transform the Middle East.
Reaching the agreement did not bury the controversy of one of the most bitterly contested diplomatic issues of the day: the European Union called it a "sign of hope for the entire world", while Israel called it an "historic surrender".
Under the deal, sanctions imposed by the United States, European Union and United Nations will be lifted in return for Iran agreeing long-term curbs on a nuclear program that the West has suspected was aimed at creating a nuclear bomb.
The agreement is a major political victory for both U.S. President Barack Obama and Iran's President Hassan Rouhani, a pragmatist elected two years ago on a vow to reduce the diplomatic isolation of a country of 77 million people.
But both leaders face scepticism from powerful hardliners at home after decades of enmity between nations that referred to each other as "the Great Satan" and a member of the "Axis of Evil".
The Times of Israel is liveblogging Tuesday’s events as they unfold.
Obama: I will veto any attempt to sink deal
US President Barack Obama says that he will veto “any legislation” passed by Congress that stands against nuclear deal with Iran.
“I will veto any legislation that prevents the successful implementation of this deal,” Obama says.
“Every pathway to a nuclear weapon is cut off. The international community will be able to verify that the Islamic Republic of Iran will not achieve a nuclear weapon,” he adds.
According to Obama, the deal ensures that “Iran will not produce … the material necessary for a nuclear bomb,” and that even though it currently has a uranium stockpile that can produce 10 nuclear weapons, the accord will ensure that the stockpile will be shipped abroad.
“This agreement is not built on trust, it is built on verification. Inspectors will have 24/7 access to Iran’s key nuclear sites,” Obama says.
Israel to try to sink deal in US Congre
Israel’s first course of action looks to be an intense lobbying effort in the US Congress to oppose the deal. Netanyahu spoke against the emerging deal before a joint session of Congress in March. Yet despite strong support among Republicans in Congress, there is little that can be done now.
The Senate can weigh in on the agreement but can’t kill it, because Obama doesn’t need congressional approval for a multinational deal that is not designated a treaty.
Lawmakers have 60 days to review the agreement, during which Obama can’t ease penalties on Iran. Only if lawmakers were to build a veto-proof majority behind new legislation enacting new sanctions or preventing Obama from suspending existing ones, the administration would be prevented from living up to the accord.
Ya’alon laments ‘tragedy’ of Iran nuke deal
Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon calls the nuclear accord between Iran and the world powers a “tragedy” that will enable Tehran to break through – at will – to full nuclear weapon capacity at any time.
“The agreement that was signed today between the world powers and Iran is built on lies and deceit. Iran, which arrived at the negotiating table in a weak position, has emerged victorious. Instead of fighting terror with all its might, the free world has granted legitimacy to Iran’s hateful, murderous ways. This agreement is a tragedy for all who aspire for regional stability and fear a nuclear Iran,” Ya’alon says.
According to Ya’alon, the agreement will enable Iran to solidify its sub-nuclear position, leaving it with a “zero breakout time” ability. At that point, there is “no one who can stop them,” Ya’alon says.
After sanctions are lifted, “massive funds will be funneled into the Iranian terror accounts,” leaving the Islamic republic in a “stronger position to accelerate its regional and global [hegemony] … [which] include efforts to develop-long range missiles that target far beyond the Middle East.”
“This agreement is bad. It rewards deceit, terror and war-mongering. The mere thought of reaccepting the chief terrorist regime into the family of nations is beyond belief,” he concludes.
Lapid: Iran will build nukes with world’s help
Yesh Atid party chief Yair Lapid says that the deal means the world will be assisting Tehran to assemble nuclear weapons.
“We thought it was a bad deal, but it is in fact a terrible deal. This agreement allows Iran to continue developing nuclear weapons, only this time with the help of the international community,” Lapid says.
“Ask yourself one question. If everyone believes that the Iranians will fulfill their part of the agreement, how come they were so opposed to the idea of snap inspections? And why is it that the Americans and the P5+1 have agreed that there will be no snap inspections? If the Iranians intended to be trustworthy, they would have approved and even encouraged unannounced inspections — because that could have been a way of showing the world that they intend to stand by the agreement — but they don’t,” he continues.
“Now, after signing the agreement, [the Iranian regime] will continue doing what they have done for the past 20 years — try to acquire nuclear weapons behind the world’s back. Only now, the Iranians will do it with the help of the international community. Lifting the sanctions means that the Iranians will have more money and more capabilities to advance their nuclear facilities,” Lapid concludes.
Israeli lawmakers voiced strong opposition to a landmark nuclear deal reached between Iran and world powers Tuesday morning, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warning the agreement was “a historic mistake.”
Criticism of the deal came from both sides of Israel’s political spectrum as the pact, long feared in Israel as paving Iran’s path to a nuclear weapon, was clinched by the sides after years of talks.
“From the initial reports we can already conclude that this agreement is an historic mistake for the world,” Netanyahu said at the start of a meeting with Dutch Foreign Minister Bert Koenders. “Far-reaching concessions have been made in all areas that were supposed to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons capability.”
Echoing comments he made a day earlier, Netanyahu said the agreement was inevitable when the US was willing to cave to Iranian demands even as Tehran officials led public calls of “Death to America.”
“I would like to say here and now – when you are willing to make an agreement at any cost, this is the result.”
Netanyahu, who has lobbied incessantly against the emerging agreement, said he never opposed the deal, but rather Iran’s ability to obtain a nuclear weapon.
“We knew very well that the desire to sign an agreement was stronger than anything, and therefore we did not commit to preventing an agreement. We did commit to preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, and this commitment still stands,” he said.
Deputy Foreign Minister Tzipi Hotovely slammed the deal as a “historic agreement of surrender by the West to the axis of evil led by Iran.”
“The implications of the agreement in the foreseeable future are very bad. Iran will continue sending terror cells in all directions, will continue to inflame the Middle East and worst of all – will take a huge step toward becoming a nuclear threshold state,” Hotovely said.
According to diplomats, the deal, which seeks to curb Iran’s nuclear ambitions in exchange for sanctions relief, will place limits on the amount of nuclear work Iran can do over the next 10 to 15 years in exchange for the easing of economic sanctions.
It will still need to be ratified by Congress in Washington, and Israeli officials have indicated they will continue to fight for a stronger deal.
Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan told Army Radio the “details of the agreement matter little, so long as they [the Iranians] can ultimately acquire nuclear weapons.”
Netanyahu called on all Israeli leaders to set aside political differences and unite behind what he called the most fateful issue for Israel’s future and security.
Iran will be able to keep all of its nuclear sites in place while world powers lift crippling sanctions on the country under a watershed pact reached Tuesday, an Iranian news site reported as details of the agreement began to emerge.
At the same time, the head of the UN atomic watchdog said he had signed a “roadmap” with Iran for probing suspected efforts to develop nuclear weapons, a key part of an overall accord.
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Yukiya Amano said he aimed to issue a report on the watchdog’s investigation by December 15.
But reports from Iranian news sites – unsubstantiated so far – painted a picture of major concessions regarding the country’s nuclear program.
According to Press TV, a semi-official news agency owned by the Iranian regime, the Arak heavy water reactor will remain intact and be modernized and equipped with the “latest technology,” while the country’s nuclear infrastructure and research and development on advanced centrifuges will continue.
The country will continue “research & development on advanced centrifuges” and will be allowed to continue enriching uranium, according to a Press TV tweet.
The closure of Arak had once been considered a major demand by Western powers negotiating the deal. Instead, according to the Iranian report, Tehran will be recognized as a producer of enriched uranium and heavy water in global markets.
“Billions” of dollars of Iran’s blocked revenues will be unfrozen and a ban on Iranian students studying abroad in nuclear-related fields will be fully removed, according to the Iranian reports.
Reports also indicated an arms embargo on Iran would be partially lifted, allowing for some defensive imports and exports, which would then be fully removed in five years. Missile trade would be banned for eight years.
Tehran will receive “facilitated access in trade, technology, financial, energy fields,” and bans on the country’s central bank, shipping, oil industry, and many other companies will be removed, according to Press TV
Education Minister Naftali Bennett harshly criticized the nuclear deal signed between Iran and world powers on Tuesday, saying "this day will be remembered as a black day in the history of the free world."
"The history books have been rewritten again today, and this period will be deemed particularly grave and dangerous."
"The history books have been rewritten again today, and this period will be deemed particularly grave and dangerous."
"Western citizens who get up for another day at work or school, are not aware of the fact that about half a trillion dollars has been transferred to the hands of a terrorist superpower, the most dangerous country in the world, who has promised the destruction of nations and peoples."
"Today it may be us, tomorrow it may reach every country in the form of suitcase bombs in London or New York. Israel has done everything possible to warn of danger and in the end it will follow its own interests and will do whatever it takes to defend itself."
The nuclear accord agreed upon in Vienna is a “historical capitulation of the West to the axis of evil led by Iran,” Deputy Foreign Minister Tzipi Hotovely said Tuesday morning.
The nuclear accord agreed upon in Vienna is a “historical capitulation of the West to the axis of evil led by Iran,” Deputy Foreign Minister Tzipi Hotovely said Tuesday morning.
The short term ramifications of the accord are “very grave,” she said, adding that Iran will continue to spread terror around the globe, continue to destabilize the region, and take a giant step toward becoming a threshold nuclear state.
MK Ofir Akunis replied to the news with skepticism, saying "the only thing that is guaranteed when it comes to an agreement with Iran is that it will not be fulfilled, and Iran continues to develop nuclear weapons which threaten the entire world."
"While it is all smiles in Vienna today, tomorrow [the deal] promises worry, fear, and insecurity for all countries in the Middle East and to all countries that have signed the agreement. It is unfortunate that instead of learning from our mistakes made in recent history, our leaders are repeating them," he said in a statement.
Yisrael Beytenu MK Avigdor Liberman replied to the news on Tuesday, saying the Iranian agreement "ignored past experience, and is endangering the future."
Liberman met the news of the Iranian deal with great dismay, saying that "the agreement with Iran will be remembered in history in the same line with the Munich Agreement and the agreement with North Korea. This agreement is an agreement which ignores great dangers, and as a result is a total surrender to terror and unbridled violence in the international arena."
Liberman met the news of the Iranian deal with great dismay, saying that "the agreement with Iran will be remembered in history in the same line with the Munich Agreement and the agreement with North Korea. This agreement is an agreement which ignores great dangers, and as a result is a total surrender to terror and unbridled violence in the international arena."
"A black flag waves over this agreement and it will be remembered as a black day in history, and in the entire free world," he said.
"The State of Israel needs to ensure at all times and in all circumstances that it will defend itself. Today, Israel needs to remember: 'If I am not for myself, who will be for me'?"
The agreement between world powers and Iran over the Islamic Republic's nuclear program is built on "lies and deceit," Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon said Tuesday, in the latest and most fierce criticism offered by him of the diplomatic process with Tehran to date.
Speaking soon after news of the deal's conclusion was confirmed by negotiators, Ya'alon stated, Iran "arrived at the negotiating table in a weak position, and has emerged victorious. Instead of fighting terror with all its might, the free world has granted legitimacy to Iran’s hateful, murderous ways. This agreement is a tragedy for all who aspire for regional stability and fear a nuclear Iran."
Ya'alon reiterated his warnings over the Islamic Republic regional aggression, describing it as "the world’s leading exporter of terror, maliciously involved in every angle of the Middle East conflict – either directly or indirectly, through its emissaries – undermining moderate Arab regimes, battling Israel and harming Western interests in the region."
"This evil regime employs terror, funds terror, arms terror and disseminates terror across the world. The agreement signed with Iran will only serve to further support this bloody enterprise. With the implementation of the agreement and lifting of sanctions, massive funds will be funneled into the Iranian terror accounts – boosting its evil operations," he warned.
Iran: The Debacle Looms | Frontpage Mag
Reuters reported Monday that “a draft nuclear deal between Iran and six major powers calls for U.N. inspectors to have access to all suspect Iranian sites, including military…” Sounds good, no? But here’s the catch: “…based on consultations between the powers and Tehran.” So the Iranian mullahs will have a say in what sites get inspected, and how the inspections are conducted. What could possibly go wrong?
Plenty, of course. As the nuclear agreement looms, the Iranian regime is making absolutely no effort affect even the appearance of a desire for peace and harmonious coexistence with nations it regards as its enemies. The mullahs demonstrate again and again that they are well aware that there is nothing, absolutely nothing, they can do to make Barack Obama and John Kerry reconsider their determination to conclude an agreement with Iran.
And with the glee of a rebellious adolescent, they seem to be intent on rubbing it in. Friday was “Death to Israel Day” in Iran, and according to Arutz Sheva, “it also was the launch date for an Iranian cellphone game that has players in the Islamic state practice raining potentially nuclear-tipped missiles on Israel.”
CNN, “a U.S. Navy ship and helicopter were repeatedly targeted by a laser device on board an Iranian-flagged merchant ship beginning on Sunday in the Gulf of Aden, according to a U.S. defense official.” It added that the Navy was “not certain exactly what the device was, or how powerful it was, but believes it was not of industrial or military grade quality since there was no damage. The incidents are viewed at this point as harassment from the Iranians.” Harassment from our negotiating partners and fellow seekers of peace.
It shouldn’t have to be stated, but it does: the Iranian mullahs do not want peace. They do not want coexistence. They want to destroy Israel, and may well use nuclear weapons to destroy it. They are only interested in a nuclear deal for what they can gain from it in terms of an easing of sanctions, which will result in a much-needed boost to the Iranian economy, and a blanket permission to manufacture nuclear weapons.
The catastrophe is on the horizon. And we’re all going along for the ride.
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