Kerry says Netanyahu showed why Iran nuclear deal was needed: ‘It’s working’

Former Secretary of State John Kerry argued Tuesday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu essentially laid out the case for the Iran nuclear deal during a presentation alleging that Tehran was developing weapons in secret.

“Every detail PM Netanyahu presented yesterday was every reason the world came together to apply years of sanctions and negotiate the Iran nuclear agreement — because the threat was real and had to be stopped,” Kerry tweeted. 

“It’s working!” Kerry added of the Obama-era agreement he helped negotiate. “That’s why Israeli security experts are speaking out.”

Every detail PM Netanyahu presented yesterday was every reason the world came together to apply years of sanctions and negotiate the Iran nuclear agreement – because the threat was real and had to be stopped. It’s working! That’s why Israeli security experts are speaking out. 1/4

— John Kerry (@JohnKerry) May 1, 2018

Netanyahu claimed during his speech Monday that Israel had evidence proving Iran “lied” and continued its nuclear weapons program after 2009. He cited the material in lobbying President Trump to withdraw from the Iran nuclear agreement.

{mosads}Netanyahu’s office cast the speech as a “significant development.” But the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said in 2011 that it had credible evidence showing Iran was doing nuclear weapons work under a structured program through 2003 and that work may have continued past that.

Kerry argued that prior to the nuclear deal, reached in 2015, Iran was able to develop its weapons without any accountability or transparency. 

“Blow up the deal and you’re back there tomorrow!” Kerry concluded.

There was no negotiation – and all of that changed with JCPOA. Blow up the deal and you’re back there tomorrow! 4/4

— John Kerry (@JohnKerry) May 1, 2018

The agreement between Iran and the United States, China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, Germany and the European Union provided Tehran billions in sanctions relief in exchange for curbing its nuclear program.

Trump has set a May 12 deadline for European allies to agree to a supplemental deal that addresses what he views as flaws in the existing agreement, which he has deemed “terrible” and “the worst ever.”

Trump has played coy about his plans ahead of the deadline, but French President Emmanuel Macron said he expects the U.S. to withdraw.