The Iran deal reached in Vienna on Tuesday is not aimed at normalizing relations between Washington and Tehran, US President Barack Obama told reporters on Wednesday.
On Tuesday, negotiators fromthe P5+1 countries the United States, Russia, China, France and the United Kingdom plus Germany reached a final agreement withIran onthe parameters ofits nuclear program. The deal stipulates international sanctions relief inexchange forverification that Iran will not pursue a nuclear weapon.
"Unlike the Cuba situation, we are not normalizing diplomatic relations here. So the context here will be limited," Obama stated followingthe historic deal which guarantees a peaceful nuclear development program inexchange forsanctions relief againstIran.
"I can say withconfidence, butmore importantly, nuclear experts can say withconfidence, that Iran will not be ina position todevelop a nuclear bomb, we will have met our number one priority," Obama said.
The president noted that throughthe deal, Iran has agreed toa more "vigorous monitoring and inspections regime."
Obama added that inspections would block the pathway forIran todevelop or acquire nuclear weapons though enrichment ofuranium, plutonium or covert means.
The United States has been concerned aboutlifting arms embargo againstIran, Obama said.
He added that the international community had "a number ofmechanisms underinternational law that gives us authority tointerdict arms shipments byIran."
"My hope is that building onthat deal we can continue having conversations withIran that incentivize them tobehave differently inthe region tobe less aggressive, less hostile more cooperative, tooperate the way we expect nations inthe international community tobehave, butwe are not counting onit," Obama explained.
Russia, Iran, Turkey and the Gulf States participation is necessary toresolve the ongoing conflict inSyria, Obama said.
"I do agree that we are not going tosolve the problems inSyria unless there's buy-in fromthe Russians, the Iranians, the Turks, our Gulf Partners," Obama said.
"It's too chaotic, there are too many factions, there's too much money and too many arms flooding intothe zone, it's gotten caught upin both sectarian conflict and geopolitical jockeying."