Lausanne/Tel Aviv/New Delhi/Washington, April 3
The P5+1 group of world powers and Iran reached a breakthrough in their
nuclear talks and a tentative deal was achieved which US president
Barack Obama praised as "historic" but Israel on Friday said a deal
based on this framework will threaten Israel's existence.
In his
remarks delivered from the Rose Garden at the White House, a resolute
Obama characterised the deal as "the best option so far" to prevent Iran
from developing a nuclear weapon.
But Israel's Prime Minister
Binyamin Netanyahu was fiercely critical, telling Obama that his country
"vehemently opposes" the deal.
Under the tentative agreement,
restrictions will be placed on Iran's enrichment of nuclear material so
that it cannot lead to atomic weapons. In return, the US and the
European Union will terminate all nuclear-related economic sanctions on
Iran once the UN nuclear agency confirms that Iran has complied.
"This
has been a long time coming," Obama said. "It is a good deal, a deal
that meets our core objectives … If this framework leads to a final,
comprehensive deal, it will make our country, our allies and our world
safer."
The framework, the culmination of marathon talks between
world leaders in Lausanne, provides the basis for a more comprehensive
nuclear agreement that is to be reached by June 30.
Obama faces
mounting opposition from lawmakers on Capitol Hill, particularly from
Republicans who control both chambers of Congress, and the Netanyahu-led
Israel.
Obama phoned Netanyahu to discuss the nuclear agreement,
according to the White House. In a statement, a spokesperson said that
Obama emphasised that the US "remains steadfast in its commitment to the
security of Israel".
Netanyahu, however, told Obama that Israel
"vehemently opposes" the framework deal. In a statement released after
his conversation with the US president he said: "A deal that is based on
this framework will threaten Israel's existence ... The alternative is
to stand firmly and increase pressure on Iran until a better deal is
reached."
On Friday after a meeting of his security cabinet to
discuss the framework deal, Netanyahu said: "Israel demands that any
final agreement with Iran will include a clear and unambiguous Iranian
commitment of Israel's right to exist."
"Israel will not accept
an agreement which allows a country that vows to annihilate us to
develop nuclear weapons," he said, stressing that "I want to make it
clear to all that the survival of Israel is non-negotiable".
India
also welcomed the understanding reached at Lausanne and the external
affairs ministry said: "A significant step seems to have been taken with
the agreement on the parameters of a comprehensive settlement to be
negotiated by June 30."
"India has always maintained that the
Iranian nuclear issue should be resolved peacefully by respecting Iran's
right to peaceful uses of nuclear energy as also the international
community's strong interest in the exclusively peaceful nature of Iran's
nuclear programme."
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani assured the
global powers that Iran will observe its obligations according to the
framework deal with the P5+1 group on Tehran's nuclear programme,
provided that the other side abides by its obligations as well.
"The
world should know that we are not deceptive and are not liars and any
promises we give will be within the framework of our national interests
and we will live up to our promises provided that the opposite side
abides by its promises as well," Rouhani said in a televised address to
the Iranian people.
Under the framework, the US and the European
Union will lift their nuclear-related sanctions on the Iranian economy
-- a priority for Iran -- after a UN watchdog verifies that Tehran has
taken key steps. If there are violations, the sanctions will snap back
into place.
UN sanctions will also be lifted when Iran completes
its nuclear-related steps, though some peripheral restrictions will be
contained in a new Security Council resolution.
International
reductions in purchases of Iranian oil and increased isolation of the
Middle Eastern country had squeezed its economy in recent years, and the
lifting of those sanctions could bring the country major financial
rewards.
