WASHINGTON
A first step interim agreement between world powers and Iran provides critical time to broker a comprehensive agreement despite shortcomings, according to Washington’s chief negotiator Wendy Sherman.
“This is not perfect but this does freeze and roll back their program in significant ways and give us time on the clock to in fact negotiate that comprehensive agreement,” said the negotiator, the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Tuesday.
“We see this as a first step, so we don't consider the gaps that exist [to be] loopholes because this is not a final agreement,” she added.
World powers and Iran agreed to the interim agreement in November. The deal provides Iran with an estimatedUS$7 billion in sanctions relief while curtailing certain aspects of the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program.
The Under Secretary was speaking to a skeptical congressional panel during Tuesday’s hearing.
“We have placed our incredibly effective international sanctions regime on the line without clearly defining the parameters of what we expect in a final agreement,” said U.S. Senator Robert Menendez.
Despite the limited sanctions relief, David Cohen, the U.S. Treasury Department’s Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financing, maintained, “Iran is not open for business.”
He added: “We are poised to deploy our tools against anyone, anywhere, who violates our sanctions, just as we have always done.”
One key issue for several senators was Iran’s ballistic missile programs. Such programs could be used to deliver a nuclear payload, but they were not addressed under the interim agreement. Sherman acknowledged the fact, but said they would be covered under any final accord.
“It is true that in these first six months we have not shut down all of their production of any ballistic missile that could have anything to do with delivery of a nuclear weapon, but that is indeed going to be part of something that has to be addressed as part of a comprehensive agreement,” said Sherman.
The crucial test for both the international community and Iran will come as both parties engage in crucial talks to reach a conclusive deal.
According to Sherman: “The coming months will be a test of Iran's intentions and of the possibility of a peaceful resolution to the crisis."
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