Opposing Iran deal could lead to war: White House

The White House has warned the Congress, which is currently mulling tougher sanctions on Iran over the country’s nuclear energy program, that opposing a deal with Tehran could lead to war.

On Tuesday, the white House warned lawmakers that thwarting US diplomatic bids in dealing with Iran’s nuclear energy program could leave President Barack Obama little option but to use military force against Tehran.

“The American people do not want a march to war,” spokesman Jay Carney said.

He warned that if President Obama’s efforts to solve the Iranian nuclear issue through diplomatic channels failed, or were blocked, he would be left with few other options including a military action.

“The American people justifiably and understandably prefer a peaceful solution” to Iran’s nuclear issue “and this agreement, if it’s achieved, has the potential to do that,” Carney said.

The White House warning came as US lawmakers are seeking to ratchet up additional sanctions against Iran in a move that is directed at derailing negotiations over a diplomatic solution for Iran’s nuclear energy program.

Iran and the six major world powers — the United States, Britain, Russia, China, France and Germany — discussed the issue behind closed doors in Geneva, Switzerland. The intensive talks kicked off on November 7 and stretched into the early hours of November 10.

The two sides could not reach a deal in Geneva, but stressed that significant progress had been made and expressed optimism about the prospect of achieving a deal. The two sides agreed to continue negotiations on November 20 in the same venue.

The US Secretary of State John Kerry said on Monday that negotiations between Iran and the group of six major world powers in Geneva came “extremely close” to yielding results.

“We were very, very close actually, extremely close,” Kerry told the BBC in an interview.