ROUGH CUT - NO REPORTER NARRATION
An initial nuclear deal with Iran is "not perfect" because of limited time but it gives negotiating powers time to work out a comprehensive deal with Tehran, a senior State Department official said on Tuesday (February 04).
Major world powers struck an agreement with Iran on November 24 to offer it an estimated $7 billion in sanctions relief in return for steps to restrain Iranian atomic activities. The deal called for negotiation of a full agreement within a year.
"We are not blind, however, to the more than 30 years of difficult history between the United States and Iran or Iran's past actions and past behavior, as well as its current behavior. But it is crucial that we give diplomacy a chance to succeed," Wendy Sherman, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs and the lead U.S. negotiator with Iran, told lawmakers.
"This is not perfect but this does freeze and roll back their program in significant ways and give us tim
