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by Cindy Saine April 06, 2015

The Obama administration is making a push to sell to the public the framework Iran nuclear deal reached recently, before members of Congress return from a holiday recess next week. At a White House briefing Monday, U.S. Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz, who played a key role at the international Iran nuclear talks in Switzerland, came to the podium to tell reporters the preliminary agreement would shut down all pathways Iran could have to produce a nuclear bomb.

A “Forever” Agreement

Moniz said the deal is a “forever” agreement that would provide the International Atomic Energy Agency with unprecedented access and transparency to all of Iran’s nuclear installations – declared and undeclared – over a long period of time, not a certain number of years. Asked if he trusts Iran’s leaders to negotiate a deal in good faith, Moniz said the agreement is not based on trust, but on the most inspections to which any country has ever been subjected. He said the agreement is meant to be long-term, with a number of phases.

​​No Agreement on When Sanctions Should Be Lifted

Taking back the podium, White House press secretary Josh Earnest admitted that no agreement has been reached with Tehran on when international and U.S. sanctions would be lifted. Negotiators have until June 30 to complete a final, comprehensive deal. Iranian officials say they expect sanctions to immediately be lifted after a final agreement has been reached. Earnest, however, said the United States believes that the lifting of sanctions should be phased in gradually, after Iran completes various levels of compliance as set out in the deal.