Obama hails "historic" nuclear deal with Tehran.
Iranians celebrated in the streets the achievement of a preliminary nuclear agreement that could end the country's isolation and which US President Barack Obama hailed as a "historic understanding" with the former adversary; Obama described the agreement as a "historic understanding" with Iran, and compared it to the nuclear arms control pacts signed by his predecessors with the Soviet Union, which "made our world safer" during the Cold War; he warned, however, that "success is not guaranteed."
By Louis Charbonneau and Stephanie Nebehay
LAUSANNE, Switzerland (Reuters) - Iranians celebrated in the streets the achievement of a preliminary nuclear agreement that could end the country's isolation and which U.S. President Barack Obama hailed as a "historic understanding" with its former adversary.
Although uncertain, the agreement reached on Thursday, after eight days of talks in Switzerland, paves the way for negotiations on a pact that would allay Western fears that Iran aims to build an atomic bomb and, in return, lead to the lifting of economic sanctions against the Islamic Republic.
Obama and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, who took risks to open the dialogue, will have to convince skeptical conservatives in their respective countries that the move was wise.
With many details still up in the air, France urged caution against excessive optimism on Friday. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has connections with the US Republican opposition, expressed outrage at the pact, which he said could lead to nuclear proliferation and war in the Middle East.
"We haven't quite reached the end of the road yet; the end of the road should be in June," stated French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius. "Nothing is signed until everything is signed, but things are moving in the right direction," he declared to French radio station Europe 1.
The preliminary agreement is contingent upon the resolution of the 12-year dispute by June 30. All sanctions against Iran remain in place until a final agreement is reached.
Celebrations erupted in the Iranian capital after the preliminary agreement was reached. Videos and photos posted on social media showed cars honking in Tehran as passengers cheered. In one video posted on Facebook, a group of women can be heard applauding and exclaiming "Thank you, Rouhani."
Among the six powers involved in the negotiations – the United States, Germany, France, Great Britain, Russia, and China – Paris adopted the most rigid stance towards Tehran. Fabius said that the Iranian economy should receive $150 billion from the easing of sanctions.
Obama described the agreement as a "historic understanding" with Iran, and compared it to the nuclear arms control pacts signed by his predecessors with the Soviet Union, which "made our world safer" during the Cold War. He warned, however, that "success is not guaranteed."
Netanyahu told Obama in a phone call that he "vehemently opposes" the agreement. In a statement released after the conversation, Netanyahu said that an agreement based on the deal announced in Lausanne "would threaten the survival of Israel."
"This agreement would legitimize Iran's nuclear program, bolster Iran's economy, and increase Iran's aggression and terror throughout the Middle East and beyond," he said. "It would raise the risks of nuclear proliferation in the region and the risks of a terrible war."