Summary US President Barack Obama defended his administration's Iran policy on Monday.
SAN FRANCISCO (AFP) - US President Barack Obama defended his administration s Iran policy on Monday but said "huge challenges" remained to successfully implement a landmark deal on Tehran s nuclear ambitions.
Obama has come under fierce criticism from Republican rivals at home and key allies abroad, such as Israel, for pursuing a diplomatic solution to the Iran question.
Israel decried the breakthrough agreement reached in Geneva on Sunday -- under which Tehran agreed to curb its nuclear program in return for an easing of sanctions -- as a "historic mistake."
Obama, however, insisted that the US policy of diplomacy twinned with sanctions had been more productive than rhetoric, stating that "tough talk" alone would not guarantee US security.
"For the first time in a decade, we ve halted the progress on Iran s nuclear program," Obama said. "Key parts of the program will be rolled back."
Obama said diplomacy would continue over the coming months in a bit to settle "once and for all" the "threat of Iran s nuclear program."
"Huge challenges remain, but we cannot close the door on diplomacy, and we cannot rule out peaceful solutions to the world s problems," Obama said.
"We cannot commit ourselves to an endless cycle of violence, and tough talk and bluster may be the easy thing to do politically, but it s not the right thing for our security."
Earlier Monday, France said the European Union could begin lifting sanctions on Iran next month as world powers set about implementing the deal with Tehran while seeking to placate a furious Israel.
In a radio interview, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said EU foreign ministers were to meet next month to discuss lifting some sanctions as part of the deal, a move he said could take place "in December."
One senior Western diplomat, who refused to be named, told AFP the focus in the coming weeks would be "swift implementation".
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday decided to send his national security advisor to Washington for talks on Iran after warning the deal will convince Tehran it has a free hand to achieve a breakout nuclear capability.
Obama has repeatedly tried to reassure Netanyahu, calling him on Sunday to discuss the issue.
The Geneva deal came just days after Iran s supreme leader described Israel as a "rabid dog" that was "doomed to collapse".
Tehran has a long history of belligerent statements towards the Jewish state, and Israel -- the Middle East s sole if undeclared nuclear power -- has repeatedly warned that a nuclear Iran would pose an existential threat.
