John Kerry Defends Deal: ‘Iran Will Not Acquire a Nuclear Weapon’

“Let me just begin by saying that President Obama and I have both been very clear, as every member of this committee has been, that Iran must not acquire a nuclear weapon, and it is the president's centerpiece of his foreign policy Iran will not acquire a nuclear weapon. This imperative is at the top of our national security agenda, and I know it's at the top of yours as well. So I really do welcome the opportunity to have a discussion not only about what the first step agreement does, but also to clarify, I hope significantly, what it doesn't do. Because there is a certain -- as there is in any of these kinds of things, a certain mythology that sometimes grows up around them. The title of today's hearing is 'The Iran Nuclear Deal: Does it Further National Security?’ And I would state to you unequivocally, the answer is yes. The national security of the United States is stronger under this first step agreement than it was before. Israel’s national security is stronger than it was the day before we entered into this agreement. And the Gulf and Middle East interests are more secure than the day before we entered into this agreement."