Moniz provides scientific defense of Iran deal at White House

The emerging nuclear deal with Iran is a “forever agreement”, says US Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz.

On Monday, Moniz made the remarks at the White House where he gave a scientific defense of the mutual understanding recently reached between Iran and the P5+1.

He said the deal provided “unprecedented access and transparency” and was based on “hard-nosed requirements”.

“It’s not a fixed-year agreement. It’s a forever agreement, in a certain sense, with different stages.”

The US official, a member of the United States negotiation team in Iran talks, further outlined the inspection procedure of Iran’s nuclear program in his appearance which is part of efforts by the Obama administration to prevent the Republican-weighted Congress from measures against the deal.

Since negotiations began between Tehran and the P5+1 –the US, Britain, Russia, China, France, and Germany– the pro-Israel Congress has been making attempts to hamper any deal with Iran.

Moniz mostly spoke with Ali Akbar Salehi, the head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, during the talks which led to a mutual understanding in the Swiss lakeside city of Lausanne on Thursday.

The two sides are expected to start drafting a final accord, dubbed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which is expected to come until the end of June.

Moniz called on the Congress to wait until then before passing a legislation on the deal, saying President Barack Obama’s move to engage in the talks has been made based on his authority under the US Constitution.

Obama has said that he would veto any legislation against the deal.

Tennessee Republican Senator Bob Corker told Fox News on Sunday that the GOP-dominated Senate is only two or three votes short of the two-thirds votes required to override Obama’s potential veto.