Clinton promises action on Iran for noncompliance

9/10/2015 4:01:24 AM

(MENAFN- The Journal Of Turkish Weekly) Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton said Wednesday she supports anucleardeal with Iran as a part of a larger strategy towardIran.

"Here is how I see it (the nukedeal).Either we move forward on the path of diplomacy and seize this chance to block Iran's path to a nuclear weapon or we turn down a more dangerous path leading to a far-less certain and riskier future" she said during an address at the Brookings Institution.

She acknowledged skepticismtoward Iran particularly voiced bythe Republicansbut said when President Barack Obama took office Iran was already racing toward a nuclear weapon.

The former secretary of state said she also voted for sanctions against Iran while she served as a U.S. senator but the measure was ineffective and U.S. partners did not embrace it.

"American sanctions provided the foundation but Iran didn't really feel the heat until we turned this into an international campaign so biting that Iran had no choice but to negotiate" she said.

The agreement on Iran's nuclear program is not perfect but it is "a strong agreement and should not be turned down" she said.

"If we walk away now our capacity to sustain and enforce sanctions will be severely diminished" Clinton said. "No restrictions on their nuclearprogram. No real warning if Tehran suddenly rushes toward a bomb. And the international sanctions regime would fall apart so no more economic consequences for Iran either."

Congress returned from summer recess earlier this weekconsumed with discussions on whether to restrict or at least createchecks and balances on the White House'sinitiatives regarding the deal reached in July between world powers and Iran.

But with the support of four additional Democratic senators announced Tuesday it appears Obama has enough backing in the chamber that will not force him to use a presidential veto to negate a Republican vote of disapproval on the accord.

Clinton's comments came as Republican presidential candidates Ted Cruz and Donald Trump joined a rally at the U.S. Capitol protesting the Iran agreement.

If Clinton wins the White House she promised to stand tough against any attempt by Iran to bend the rules on the deal.

"I will hold the line against Iranian noncompliance that means penalties even for small violations" she said.

Clinton currently leads the small crop of Democratic presidential contenders with a 44 percent favorability rating according to recent polls.

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