Obama hails ‘historic understanding’ with Iran

US President Barack Obama has praised the P5+1 for reaching an "historic understanding" with Iran over its nuclear energy program.

On Thursday, the P5+1 – the US, Britain, France, China, Russia and Germany – reached an outline of an agreement with Iran over its civilian nuclear work that would lift all international sanctions imposed against the Islamic Republic in exchange for certain steps Tehran will take with regard to its nuclear program.

Obama hailed the "historic understanding" with Iran, saying that it paves the way for a final agreement in three months. The two sides have set July 1 as the final deadline for a comprehensive deal.

Iran and the P5+1 have been holding negotiations for more than two years to reach a comprehensive deal on the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program.

"Today, after many months of tough, principled diplomacy, we have achieved the framework for that deal. And it is a good deal," Obama said in a statement made from the Rose Garden of the White House on Thursday.

He confirmed that Iran has so far met all of its obligations, adding that the mutual understanding is based on “unprecedented verification”.

The US president said he is "convinced" that, if the framework understanding leads to a final agreement, "it will make our country, our allies, and our world safer."

"It is a good deal, a deal that meets our core objectives," he said.

"This has been a long time coming. The Islamic Republic of Iran has been advancing its nuclear program for decades," he said.

The US president further ensured the critics including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that a diplomatic solution with Iran is the best option.  

"A diplomatic solution is the best way to get this done, and offers a more comprehensive and lasting solution. It is our best option by far," he said.

Obama also warned the US Congress against taking any action that could upend work toward a final deal, noting that in that case the United States would be the party that will be blamed for the failure of the talks.

"If Congress kills this deal not based on expert analysis and without offering any reasonable alternative, then it's the United States that will be blamed for the failure of diplomacy, international unity will collapse and the path to conflict will widen," Obama said.

Iran and the P5+1 adopted a joint statement on Thursday, after marathon talks in the Swiss city of Lausanne calling, among other things, for the removal of UN Security Council resolutions and sanctions imposed against the Islamic Republic.

The statement was read out in a joint press conference in Lausanne by European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif.

In the framework of the agreement, none of Iran’s nuclear facilities as well as the previous activities will be stopped, shut down or suspended and Iran’s nuclear activities in all its nuclear facilities including Natanz, Fordow, Isfahan and Arak will continue.

The comprehensive solutions will guarantee the continued enrichment program inside the Iranian territory and according to this, Iran will be allowed to go on with industrial production of nuclear fuel which is meant for running its nuclear power plants.

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