Today, the
United States, together with our allies and partners, reached a historic
understanding with Iran.
If fully
implemented, this framework will prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon,
making our nation, our allies, and our world safer.
For decades,
Iran has been advancing its nuclear program. When I took office, Iran was
operating thousands of centrifuges -- which can produce the materials for a
nuclear bomb -- and was concealing a secret nuclear facility. I made it clear
that the United States was prepared to find a diplomatic resolution, if Iran
came to the table in a serious way.
But that didn't
happen.
So we rallied
the world to impose the toughest sanctions in history, profoundly impacting
Iran's economy. Sanctions couldn't stop Iran's nuclear program on their own,
but they helped bring Iran to the negotiating table.
And after many
months of tough and principled diplomacy, the United States -- joined by the
United Kingdom, France, Germany, Russia, China, and the European Union -- achieved
the framework for a deal that will cut off every pathway Iran could take to
develop a nuclear weapon.
First,
it stops Iran from pursuing a bomb using plutonium, because Iran will not
develop weapons-grade plutonium. The core of its reactor at Arak will
be dismantled and replaced. The spent fuel from that facility will be shipped
out of Iran for the life of the reactor. Iran will not build a new heavy-water
reactor. And Iran will never reprocess fuel from its existing reactors.
Second,
it shuts down Iran's path to a bomb using enriched uranium. Iran has
agreed to reduce its installed centrifuges by two-thirds. It will no longer
enrich uranium at its Fordow facility, and it will not enrich uranium with its
advanced centrifuges for at least the next 10 years. And the vast majority of
its stockpile of enriched uranium will be neutralized.
Third,
it provides the best possible defense against Iran's ability to pursue a
nuclear weapon in secret. Iran has agreed to the most robust and
intrusive inspections and transparency regime ever negotiated for any nuclear
program in history. International inspectors will have unprecedented access not
only to Iranian nuclear facilities, but to the entire supply chain that
supports Iran's nuclear program -- from uranium mills that provide the raw
materials, to the centrifuge production and storage facilities that support the
program.
If Iran cheats,
the world will know.
In return for
Iran's actions, the international community has agreed to provide Iran with
relief from certain sanctions -- our own sanctions, and international sanctions
imposed by the United Nations Security Council. This relief will be tied to the
steps Iran takes to adhere to the deal. And if Iran violates the deal,
sanctions can be snapped back into place. Meanwhile, other American sanctions
on Iran -- for its support of terrorism, its human rights abuses, and its
ballistic missile program -- will be fully enforced.
Now, our work is
not yet done. Negotiators will continue to work through the details of how this
framework will be fully implemented, and those details matter. And let me be
clear: If Iran backslides, and the verification and inspection mechanisms don't
meet the specifications of our nuclear and security experts, there will be no
deal.
But if we can
get this done, and Iran follows through on the framework that our negotiators
agreed to, we will be able to peacefully resolve one of the gravest threats to
the security of our nation, our allies, and the world.
Learn
more about today's historic deal and how it will make the United States, our
allies, and our world safer:
Thank you,
President Barack
Obama
Komrades,
m these constant
arrests of SCNC activists: Is this the dialogue which the African Human Rights
Court in Banjul - The Gambia recommended? What harm did these personalities
commit that they should be arrested at gun-point? Why is one person and some
peace loving compatriots, who desire justice for a troubled country, constantly
arrested at homes when they are eating or discussing? Where do we go with this
unlawful acts perpetuated against our compatriots? The slogan of SCNC seek
justice through peaceful means. They have been to courts to seek justice but
there is a huge impediment posed by the government of Cameroun. As I write, Pa
Kang's child has just taken a pullover and some other food items to give the
father at the cell because he has not been very healthy of late.
