President Obama has made a passionate defence of the Iran nuclear deal ahead of a congressional vote which could block the agreement, which has been years in the making.
Speaking at American University Washington DC, he framed the decision as a choice between war and peace, saying “it is the most consequential foreign policy decision since Iraq war.”
He sought to cement support for the deal saying “the agreement cuts off all of Iran’s pathways to a bomb.”
Taking note of history he made reference to President Kennedy’s non-proliferation speech in 1963 made at the same location:
“52 years ago President Kennedy at the height of the Cold War addressed this same university on the subject of peace…The prospect of nuclear war was all too real…with all the threats we face today it’s hard to appreciate the threats back then.”
The deal has been largely criticised by Israel in particular by Prime Minister Netanyahu, but Obama argued it was the best way to avoid conflict with Tehran.
