In a meeting at the White House on Tuesday, US President Barack Obama tried to persuade Jewish leaders to back the agreement with Iran over Tehran’s nuclear program.
According to an unnamed person quoted by CNN, Obama - who turned 54 on Tuesday - told the 20 Jewish leaders in the room: "It's my birthday and I'm going to be blunt.” Obama then set out his case for loosening sanctions on Tehran in exchange for stricter inspections of potential nuclear sites, the attendee told CNN.
The meeting, which was described by attendees as "serious" and "cordial" but at times "contentious", lasted more than two hours. Vice President Joe Bidenalso attended. The World Jewish Congress was represented by its CEO, Robert Singer.
Greg Rosenbaum, who was at the meeting, told ‘Israel Radio’ that the president had spelled out what exercising a US military option to strike Iran's nuclear facilities would mean if the deal between world powers and Tehran was scrapped.
"He said military action by the United States against Iran's nuclear facilities is not going to result in Iran deciding to have a full-fledged war with the United States," Rosenbaum, of the National Jewish Democratic Council, quoted Obama as telling the forum. "'You'll see more support for terrorism. You'll see Hezbollah rockets falling on Tel Aviv.' This is what he said would happen if the US had a military strike on Iran," said Rosenbaum, according to the news agency 'Reuters'.
During the discussion, some Jewish leaders said Obama had repeatedly rejected the notion that a better Iran deal could be had. Obama also warned that if the agreement failed, Iran could obtain a nuclear bomb in months. US congressmen and senators are to decide in September whether to back the deal.
Netanyahu: 'Oppose deal to avoid war'
Earlier on Tuesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who vigorously opposes the deal, also addressed American Jews in a webcast. Netanyahu said the agreement was insufficient to curb Iranian nuclear projects with bomb-making potential while bringing Tehran a windfall in sanctions relief that could help fund destabilizing regional conflicts.
He also pushed back against the Obama administration's counter-argument that the deal was the only way to avoid eventual war with Iran. "I don't oppose this deal because I want war. I oppose this deal because I want to prevent war. And this deal will bring war," he said. "This is a time to stand up and be counted. Oppose this dangerous deal."
Organizers said 10,000 people signed up to view the webcast.
