Kerry confident in Obama's ability to negotiate final deal with Iran

In response to the agreement between Obama and Congress, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham stated that Iran will not allow US domestic politics to derail nuclear negotiations.

By REUTERS
John Kerry in the northern German city of Luebeck (photo credit: REUTERS)
John Kerry in the northern German city of Luebeck
(photo credit: REUTERS)
US Secretary of State John Kerry said on Wednesday he was confident US President Barack Obama would be able to negotiate a final nuclear deal with Iran after a framework accord was agreed between Tehran and six world powers earlier this month.
"Looming large is the challenge of finishing the negotiation with Iran over the course of the next two and a half months," Kerry said after arriving in Germany for a Group of Seven foreign ministers' meeting in the northern city of Luebeck.
"Yesterday there was a compromise reached in Washington regarding congressional input. We are confident about our ability for the president to negotiate an agreement and to do so with the ability to make the world safer," he added.
US President Barack Obama acknowledged on Tuesday that Congress will have the power to review a nuclear deal with Iran, reluctantly giving in to pressure from Republicans and some in his own party after they crafted a rare compromise demanding a say.
In response to the agreement between Obama and Congress, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham stated that Iran will not allow US domestic politics to derail nuclear negotiations.
"That is an issue related to their domestic affairs. We are dealing with the American government," Afkham said at a news conference carried by state television.
The development injects a new element of uncertainty into the delicate final stages of negotiations between major powers and Iran aimed at curbing Tehran's nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief.
German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said the G7 foreign ministers would discuss the Iran talks during their meeting in Luebeck, especially now that Kerry had arrived.
"(We'll deal with)... the result between the American administration and Congress, which has a certain influence on whether the final agreement with Iran can succeed by June 30 or not," Steinmeier said.
He said the foreign ministers would listen to Kerry's assessment of negotiations with Iran and how the prospect of congressional approval might affect them.