Kerry tries to sell Iran deal to Congress

US Secretary of State John Kerry warned against "conclusions…that don't in fact match with the reality" when speaking to lawmakers about the nuclear deal with Iran on Tuesday. While speaking to the House of Representatives' Foreign Affairs Committee, Kerry warned that blocking the deal was tantamount to putting Tehran on the fast track to making an atomic bomb.

Kerry said he was "happily looking forward to clarifying" misconceptions about the July 14 agreement, which came after 12 years of protracted international negotiating, to a congressional hearing.

According to the deal, world powers would lift economic sanctions that have crippled Iran's economy in exchange for Tehran's long-term curbs on its nuclear program. The Republican-controlled Congress has until September 17 to either reject or support the deal, though they could opt to do neither.

Representatives signaled to Kerry that despite President Obama's vow to veto any legislation against the deal, the White House would face difficulties if it wanted congressional support. Representative Ed Royce, the Republican chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, argued that the agreement handed Tehran a "cash bonanza" while weakening Washington's ability to put pressure on the Iranian government.

Kerry called the idea that the "better deal" postulated by Republicans, wherein Iran capitulates completely, was a "unicorn fantasy."

The secretary of state also cautioned that trying to block the deal would isolate the US internationally, as they worked alongside the other permanent members of the UN Security Council, Germany, and the EU to secure the deal: "If we walk away, we walk away alone. Our partners are not going to be with us. Instead, they'll walk away from the tough multilateral sanctions that brought Iran to the negotiating table in the first place."

EU and Iran to hold high-level meetings

One of those negotiating partners, EU foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini, was in Iran on Tuesday in the wake of the nuclear deal to meet with her Iranian counterpart, Mohammad Javad Zarif, as well as President Hassan Rouhani.

Following their talks, Zarif announced that not only does he have "no concern," about the deal going through, his government was looking forward to high-level talks with the EU "in the near future."

"Various issues are matters of interest for both sides, such as energy, transportation, trade, environment, human rights and drug (trafficking)," Zarif said.

President Rohani echoed these sentiments. According to state news agency IRNA, Rohani said: "Scientific, cultural and political relations with the EU should be developed. However, promoting economic and trade relations is more accessible and easier."

es/kms (AP, AFP, Reuters, dpa)