August 5, 2015

In essence, the deal exchanges a lifting of oil and financial sanctions on Iran in return for limits on Iran’s nuclear production and stockpiles for the next 15 years (2030). In his impassioned, hour-long speech at American University, he argues that the “alternative to the agreement would be war.” He states the deal is built on “verification, not trust.” Opponents of the deal argue that Iran’s past thirty year record of cheating on earlier agreements, funding and fomenting terrorist networks, killing Americans in Lebanon and Iraq, seeking Israel’s destruction, and undermining Saudi Arabia and other Sunni states makes this deal a “bad” reward for such actions. A vast majority of Israelis are opposed to the deal, as were 60% of Americans. Congressional debate about the deal’s merit dominates Washington politics for the remainder of the summer. (source)