Obama begins defense of Iran agreement

WASHINGTON, July 15 (UPI) -- President Barack Obama said Wednesday congressional failure to approve the nuclear agreement with Iran would incite an arms race in the Middle East.

Speaking at a White House press conference, Obama referred to enacting the deal as "the choice we face. If we don't choose wisely, I believe future generations will judge us harshly, for letting this moment slip away."

"Without a deal, we risk even more war in the Middle East. This deal is our best means of assuring that Iran does not get a nuclear weapon. From the start, that has been my No. 1 priority."

The remarks were Obama's opening statement as he began persuading Congress to approve the agreement, negotiated over the course of 21 months and settled earlier this week in Vienna. It eliminates Iran's pursuit of nuclear weapons in exchange for removal of economic sanctions on Iran.

He said a more constructive relationship between the United States and Iran could emerge from the agreement, but rejected the contention should be rejected because it includes no provision to addressing Iran's support of terrorism and other destabilizing factors in the Middle East.

"My hope is that building on this deal, we can continue to have conversations with Iran that incentivize them to behave differently in the region, to be less aggressive, less hostile, more cooperative, but we're not counting on it," Obama said, acknowledging the agreement only "solves one particular problem," denial of a nuclear weapon.