The U.S. and five world powers this week finalized a temporary agreement to halt Iran’s nuclear program, with the Islamic Republic pledging to begin destroying its stockpile of highly enriched uranium in exchange for the easing of economic sanctions. The parties will now have six months to negotiate a permanent deal ensuring that Iran’s nuclear program remains peaceful. The U.S. and its partners—China, France, Germany, Russia, and the U.K.—will loosen trade sanctions and unfreeze $4.2 billion of Iranian assets in foreign banks. Iran has pledged to stop enriching uranium beyond the “peaceful use” threshold of 5 percent and destroy or dilute existing supplies that exceed that limit.
Congressional critics of the deal, including some Senate Democrats, are pushing for legislation imposing new, harsher sanctions in six months to help ensure Iran’s compliance. President Obama said he would veto such a bill, and Iran has vowed to end negotiations if Congress passes one. “For the sake of our national security and the peace and security of the world,” said Obama, “now is the time to give diplomacy a chance to succeed.”
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