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Photo: Reuters
Barack Obama
Photo: Reuters

Obama: I'll veto Iran sanctions

US President in annual address: Punitive measures would hasten nuclear program; we decry rise in anti-Semitism.

US President Barack Obama on Tuesday outlined his approach to foreign diplomacy in his annual State of the Union address, shooting down option of Iran sanctions as Republicans panned his views. 

 

 

The American commander-in-chief said his administration's diplomatic overtures to Iran have managed to halt the Islamic country's nuclear program and reduced its nuclear material stockpile.

 

Barack Obama giving the State of the Union address (Photo: Reuters)
Barack Obama giving the State of the Union address (Photo: Reuters)

 

"Between now and this spring, we have a chance to negotiate a comprehensive agreement that prevents a nuclear-armed Iran; secures America and our allies – including Israel; while avoiding yet another Middle East conflict," he said.

 

While Obama said all options were on the table to prevent a nuclear Iran, he explicitly opposed placing further sanctions.

 

New sanctions would "all but guarantee that diplomacy fails – alienating America from its allies; and ensuring that Iran starts up its nuclear program again," he argued.

 

"It doesn't make sense. That is why I will veto any new sanctions bill that threatens to undo this progress. The American people expect us to only go to war as a last resort, and I intend to stay true to that wisdom."

 

The head of state's speech also alluded to the recent spate of anti-Jewish attacks in Europe, which has sparked concerns of rising extremism.

 

"As Americans, we respect human dignity, even when we're threatened," said the leader in the speech given precisely two years before his successor's inauguration.

 

"It's why we speak out against the deplorable anti-Semitism that has resurfaced in certain parts of the world. It's why we continue to reject offensive stereotypes of Muslims – the vast majority of whom share our commitment to peace.

 

"We do these things not only because they're right, but because they make us safer."

 

Republicans immediately began to criticize the policies laid out in Obama's speech. Senator Marco Rubio of Florida spoke out against the president's statements on diplomacy.

 

"Instead of rewarding repressive, anti-American regimes like Cuba and Iran with undeserved concessions that legitimize and enrich them, (Obama) should condition normalized relations on real, irreversible results that protect US national security interests, safeguard human rights and ensure greater political freedoms," said the senator, signaling a rift between the parties on the issue of sanctions for Iran.

 

Meanwhile, Republican Senator Joni Ernst, a military veteran, gave a televised response to Obama's speech.

 

Ernst said her party would "debate strategies to confront terrorism and the threats posed by Al Qaeda, ISIL, and those radicalized by them. We know threats like these can't just be wished away."

 

 


פרסום ראשון: 01.21.15, 10:05
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