Economics
Obama Begins Lobbying for Iran Deal as U.S. Assures on Sanctions
While negotiators haggle over the details, opponents of the deal prepare legislation that could scuttle it.
US President Barack Obama speaks at the City Club of Cleveland on March 18, 2015 in Cleveland, Ohio.
Photographer: Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty ImagesThis article is for subscribers only.
President Barack Obama and his top aides began the job of selling the outline nuclear agreement with Iran in a flurry of calls to lawmakers and assurances that sanctions on the Islamic Republic won’t be lifted anytime soon.
Addressing two of the objections from congressional critics of the deal, State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf said Friday that Iran wouldn’t get any relief from economic sanctions until months after the June deadline for sealing a final agreement. How quickly that happens will depend on Iran meeting requirements to limit its nuclear program, she said.