Today, after two years of negotiations, the United States -- together
with our international partners -- has achieved what decades of
animosity has not:
A comprehensive, long-term deal that will verifiably prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
This deal shows the real and meaningful change that American
leadership and diplomacy can bring -- change that makes our country and
the world safer and more secure.
We negotiated from a position of strength and principle -- and the
result is a nuclear deal that cuts off every pathway to a nuclear
weapon.
I want to make sure every American knows what this deal means and how it works. Take a look here.
Because of this deal, Iran will not be able to produce highly
enriched uranium or weapons-grade plutonium, the raw materials necessary
to build a bomb. Here's why:
Under this deal, Iran will reduce its stockpile of enriched uranium
by 98 percent, remove two-thirds of its installed centrifuges -- the
machines necessary to produce highly enriched uranium -- and store them
under constant international supervision.
To put that in perspective, Iran currently has a stockpile that could
produce up to 10 nuclear weapons. Now, its uranium stockpile will be
reduced to a fraction of what would be required for a single weapon.
Under this deal, Iran will modify its nuclear reactor in Arak so it
cannot produce weapons-grade plutonium -- and all spent fuel from the
reactor will be shipped out of the country indefinitely.
This deal is not built on trust -- it's built on verification. Under
this deal, we will, for the first time, be in a position to verify that
Iran is meeting all of these commitments. International nuclear
inspectors will have access to Iran's nuclear program -- where
necessary, when necessary. This is the most comprehensive and intrusive
verification regime that we have ever negotiated. If Iran tries to
divert raw materials to covert facilities, inspectors will be able to
access any suspicious locations.
As Iran implements this deal, it will receive gradual relief from
sanctions. If it violates any aspect of this deal, sanctions that have
crippled Iran's economy will snap back into place.
Learn more, and get additional context, right here.
That's the deal.
It has the full backing of the international community. Without it,
there'd be no agreed-upon limitations on Iran's nuclear program and
other countries would feel more compelled to pursue their own programs,
threatening a nuclear arms race in the most volatile region of the
world.
Put simply: No deal means a greater chance of more war in the Middle East.
That is why it would be irresponsible to walk away from this deal.
Moving forward, I welcome a robust debate in Congress on the details of
this deal. As Commander-in-Chief, I am confident that this deal will
meet the national security interests of the U.S. and our allies. So I
will veto any legislation that prevents the successful implementation of
this deal.
Our differences with Iran are real, and the difficult history between
our nations cannot be ignored. But it is possible to change. The path
of violence and rigid ideology; a foreign policy based on threats to
attack your neighbors or eradicate Israel -- is a dead end. A different
path -- one of tolerance, and peaceful resolution of conflict -- leads
to more integration into the global economy, more engagement with the
international community, and the ability of the Iranian people to
prosper and thrive. This deal offers an opportunity to move in a new
direction.
We should seize it.
Thank you,
President Barack Obama
