Flashback: How Obama Pleaded With Iran And The World To Avoid A Nuclear War

The Iran nuclear deal was an agreement reached in 2015 between Iran and the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council (the United States, the United Kingdom, Russia, France, China and Germany) with the European Union (EU).

The deal would see Iran reduce its nuclear facilities, convert some of its enrichment sites to a “nuclear, physics and technology centre”, which would eventually see to the lifting of economic sanctions, freeing up tens of billions of dollars in oil revenue and frozen assets to the nation.

Since he took office, the 45th United States president, Donald Trump, never liked the “Iran Nuclear deal” , and as such, he later announced his country’s withdrawal as a signatory on May 8, 2018.

“If we could work something out that’s meaningful, not the waste of paper that the other deal was, I would certainly be willing to meet,” Trump said.

However, Trump’s approach to Iran and its pursuit of nuclear weaponry is in sharp contradiction with the US approach during the Barack Obama era.

Obama wanted peace at all cost and also took the path of diplomacy to step down Iran’s nuclear pursuit.

He pleaded with Iran not to pursue nuclear weapons, and through the UN created the Iran nuclear deal framework.

Obama said that Iran needed to align with the technical standards developed by international organizations, regarding its nuclear objectives.

“But if the governments of Iran and North Korea choose to ignore international standards; if they put the pursuit of nuclear weapons ahead of regional stability and the security and opportunity of their own people; if they are oblivious to the dangers of escalating nuclear arms races in both East Asia and the Middle East — then they must be held accountable.

“The world must stand together to demonstrate that international law is not an empty promise, and that treaties will be enforced. We must insist that the future does not belong to fear,” he said at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

At UNGA 2013, he also said that the US would allow Iran to possess nuclear energy but only within the limitations set by the UN.

“We are not seeking regime change and we respect the right of the Iranian people to access peaceful nuclear energy.

“Instead, we insist that the Iranian government meet its responsibilities under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and U.N. Security Council resolutions,” he said.

At the next UNGA meeting, he urged Iran to accept the ‘Iran Nuclear Deal’, explaining that it was an opportunity to foster peace and tranquility in the region.

“America is pursuing a diplomatic resolution to the Iranian nuclear issue, as part of our commitment to stop the spread of nuclear weapons and pursue the peace and security of a world without them.

“My message to Iran’s leaders and people is simple: do not let this opportunity pass. We can reach a solution that meets your energy needs while assuring the world that your program is peaceful,” he stressed.

But at the assembly in 2015, he frowned at Iran’s attitude towards the deal and lauded the UN for imposing sanctions on the regime.

He said that the “goal of sanctions was not simply to punish Iran” but to “test whether Iran could change course, accept constraints, and allow the world to verify that its nuclear program will be peaceful.”

Also, at the 2016 UN meeting, he warned that Iran’s alleged pursuit of nuclear weapons poses great threat to the world.

“We cannot escape the prospect of nuclear war unless we all commit to stopping the spread of nuclear weapons and pursuing a world without them.

“When Iran agrees to accept constraints on its nuclear program that enhances global security and enhances Iran’s ability to work with other nations.”