U.S., Iran both counter-attack critics of nuclear deal

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani both counter-attacked on Thursday against conservatives at home who are trying to block last week’s nuclear deal. In Washington, Kerry told skeptical lawmakers that rejection of the accord would give Tehran “a great big green light” to accelerate its atomic program. Rouhani, elected two years ago on a promise to reduce the international isolation of the country of nearly 80 million people, defended the agreement following criticism from the Revolutionary Guards and conservative lawmakers that it endangers Iran’s security.

We will have squandered the best chance we have to solve this problem through peaceful means.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry

In an unlikely common cause, the U.S. and Iranian governments need to sell the agreement to domestic doubters if it is ever to achieve both sides’ respective aims - curbing Tehran’s nuclear program in return for an easing of sanctions which have badly hurt the Iranian economy. Testifying to Congress, Kerry fought back against accusations by a senior Republican that he had been “fleeced” by Iranian negotiators in the final round of the Vienna talks. He warned of the consequences of rejecting the deal between Tehran and world powers including the United States.

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