Speaking from the White House early Tuesday morning, President Obama touted a deal reached between the United States, the international community and the Iranian regime over its nuclear program, saying the world is now a safer and more secure place thanks to the tradition of American leadership.
"Today because the United States negotiated from a place of strength," Obama said. "Every pathway to a nuclear weapon is cut off."
President Obama said international weapons inspectors will have access to "key" nuclear facilities 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Obama did not say inspectors will have access to all facilities.
"This deal is not built on trust, it's built on verification," Obama said. "It is possible to change."
"This deal offers an opportunity to move in a new direction," he continued.
Some key parts of the deal according to the President:
-Iran will not produce weapons grade plutonium or highly enriched uranium
-Iran will remove 2/3 of its centerfuges
-Iran won't use advanced centerfuges
-Iran will not build any new heavy water reactors for the next 15 years
-Iran will get rid of 98 percent of it's enriched uranium stock pile
-Nothing in the deal extends past 15 years
Obama said that if Iran doesn't hold up its end of the deal, sanctions can be snapped back. Critics argue "snapping back" sanctions is impossible and takes a panel and time to happen.
"We put sanctions in place to get a diplomatic resolution, and that is what we have done," Obama said.
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Congress will now take an up or down vote on the deal, which the President warned against voting down.
"No deal means a greater chance of more war in the Middle East," Obama said. "It would be irresponsible to walk away from this deal."
UPDATE: The Iranian President also spoke to the Iranian people about the deal this morning.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani says "a new chapter" has begun in relations with the world and the Islamic Republic.
Rouhani made the comments Tuesday in an address from Tehran after world powers reached an agreement with Iran over its contested nuclear program.
Rouhani said: "The sanctions regime was never successful but at the same time it had affected people's lives."
Rouhani spoke live on state television flanked by two Iranian flags. He spoke after remarks by President Barack Obama were carried live on state television, a rarity in the Islamic Republic.
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