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Obama begins campaign for Congress' support of Iran nuclear deal

He spoke at American University in Washington.

By Amy R. Connolly, Ed Adamczyk
U.S. President Barack Obama discusses the benefits of the Iran nuclear deal at a major address at American University in Washington, DC on Wednesday, August 5, 2015. Obama urged congress to ratify the deal supported by Russia, China and all major U.S. allies with the exception of Israel. The same location was used by President John Kennedy made his famous 1963 speech on nuclear disarmament with the Soviet Union. Pool Photo by Pete Marovich/UPI
1 of 2 | U.S. President Barack Obama discusses the benefits of the Iran nuclear deal at a major address at American University in Washington, DC on Wednesday, August 5, 2015. Obama urged congress to ratify the deal supported by Russia, China and all major U.S. allies with the exception of Israel. The same location was used by President John Kennedy made his famous 1963 speech on nuclear disarmament with the Soviet Union. Pool Photo by Pete Marovich/UPI | License Photo

WASHINGTON, Aug. 5 (UPI) -- President Barack Obama began his campaign Wednesday to build support on the Iran nuclear deal in an effort to stop Congress from blocking what the White House considers "the most consequential foreign policy debate since the decision to go to war in Iraq."

In a speech at American University in Washington, D.C., Obama defended the agreement reached last month, which lifts some economic sanctions against Iran in exchange for restrictions on Iran's access to develop nuclear weapons.

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"If Congress kills this deal," he said, "we will lose more than just constraints on Iran's nuclear program or the sanctions we have painstakingly built. We will have lost something more precious: America's credibility as a leader of diplomacy. America's credibility as the anchor of the international system."

"More than a decade later we still live with the consequences of the decision to invade Iraq," Obama said. "Ironically, the single biggest beneficiary of the war in that region was the Islamic Republic of Iran."

The White House compared Obama's campaign to President John F. Kennedy's speech at American University in 1963 to gain support for a nuclear test-ban treaty with the Soviet Union shortly after the Cuban missile crisis. The message may be different, but the intent is the same -- urging Americans and Congress to support an agreement despite mistrust.

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"What's appropriate about that comparison is President Kennedy, more than 50 years ago, entered into a diplomatic agreement with an adversary of the United States that did succeed in advancing the national security interests of the United States," White House press secretary Josh Earnest said Tuesday.

Obama's got plenty of work ahead of him. Congressional committees have already debated the matter with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and other administration officials, lobbyists have dedicated advertising dollars to persuading Americans the deal is inappropriate and while some Arab allies are wary of the agreement, Israel is openly hostile to it.

"I do not doubt his sincerity, but I believe he is wrong," Obama said Wednesday during his speech in regards to Netanyahu's position adding that "unfortunately, we're living through a time in American politics when every foreign policy decision is read through a partisan prism."

On Tuesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged more than 10,000 Jewish Americans to "oppose this dangerous deal." Congress has said the vote for the Iran deal will be met with disapproval.

Since the deal is not a treaty, it does not need congressional support, but it can be rejected with a two-thirds vote from both chambers. The House Foreign Affairs Committee on Tuesday introduced a resolution to do just that. A September vote is planned once the House returns from recess.

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