|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
. | ![]() |
. |
|
![]() |
![]() By Stephane Barbier Tehran (AFP) July 16, 2015
Washington and London sought Thursday to ease concerns over the Iran nuclear accord as the country's supreme leader warned that major powers are not to be trusted over its implementation. As part of an international charm offensive, British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who strongly opposes the landmark accord struck on Tuesday in Vienna between Iran and six powers including Washington. Netanyahu has condemned it as a "historic mistake" and hinted at a possible military response. Hammond sought to reassure Israel during a visit to Jerusalem, saying "robust measures" were in place to ensure the success of the nuclear deal with its arch-foe Iran. "Our focus now will be on swift and full implementation of the agreement to make sure that a nuclear weapon remains beyond Iran's reach," he said. US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter is also due in Israel next week while Israeli opposition leader Isaac Herzog is to visit Washington, partly to push for security guarantees. US Secretary of State John Kerry will head to the Gulf next month to ally fears over the nuclear deal. The announcement came after Kerry held talks in Washington with Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir, who used the occasion to warn Iran against any further "adventures" in the region. - Saudi to 'confront mischief' - "If Iran should try to cause mischief in the region, we're committed to confront it resolutely," said Jubeir. As the freshly inked deal was put to members of the UN Security Council, US President Barack Obama said opponents in the United States and abroad had offered only a path to war. "If 99 percent of the world community and the majority of nuclear experts look at this thing and they say this will prevent Iran from getting a nuclear bomb, and you are arguing either that it does not or that even if it does, it's temporary... then you should have some alternative," Obama said. The issue is either resolved "diplomatically, through a negotiation, or it's resolved through force. Through war. Those are the options." Obama's Republican rivals, who hope to scupper the agreement in a planned Congressional vote, have accused him of appeasement. The president has said he will veto any attempt to block the deal. The agreement, struck after two years of tough negotiations, aims to roll back Iran's nuclear programme in return for lifting sanctions that have crippled its economy. Obama also addressed the concerns of Saudi Arabia and other Sunni Gulf states that the accord legitimises what they see as Iranian interference in the oil-rich region. The agreement would not end "profound differences" with the Shiite-majority Islamic republic, he said, stressing their alliances with Washington would remain unchanged. - 'Not trustworthy' - In a letter to the United Nations, the six powers said Iran would remain under the threat of renewed sanctions for 15 years if it does not live up to its commitments. While Obama defended the deal in Washington, Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned President Hassan Rouhani that "some" world powers are not to be trusted in implementing it. In a letter to Rouhani, Khamenei, who had the final word on the agreement, congratulated Iran's negotiators for "their tireless efforts". Bringing the talks to a close was a "milestone", Khamenei said, but the agreement requires "careful scrutiny" before it is approved. Rouhani "must be concerned about possible violation of commitments by the other parties and close paths to it," the leader wrote in the letter, published on his website. "You are well aware that some of the six states participating in negotiations are not trustworthy at all," Khamenei said. He did not specify which of the six countries -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States plus Germany -- he was referring to. Throughout the almost two years of negotiations that culminated in the Vienna agreement after a final 18-day stretch of almost round-the-clock talks, Khamenei often spoke of his distrust of Washington. Iran has always denied Israeli and Western charges of seeking an atomic weapons capability, insisting its nuclear programme is for peaceful energy and medical purposes only. burs/dv/hkb
Related Links Learn about nuclear weapons doctrine and defense at SpaceWar.com Learn about missile defense at SpaceWar.com All about missiles at SpaceWar.com Learn about the Superpowers of the 21st Century at SpaceWar.com
|
![]() |
|
The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2014 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement All images and articles appearing on Space Media Network have been edited or digitally altered in some way. Any requests to remove copyright material will be acted upon in a timely and appropriate manner. Any attempt to extort money from Space Media Network will be ignored and reported to Australian Law Enforcement Agencies as a potential case of financial fraud involving the use of a telephonic carriage device or postal service. |