Some of the world's most powerful political leaders took to Twitter this weekend to sound off on the landmark agreement on Iran's nuclear program. But not everyone had good things to say.
U.S. President Barack Obama announced the deal on live television late Saturday night. Under the agreement, the U.S. and other world powers will begin to ease economic sanctions against Iran, provided the country offers significant proof that it does not intend to pursue a nuclear weapon.
See also: Iran President's Tweets Reveal Progress Toward Nuclear Agreement
One of the White House's official accounts live-tweeted Obama's announcement.
President Obama: "For the first time in nearly a decade, we have halted the progress of the Iranian nuclear program." #Iran
— White House Live (@WHLive) November 24, 2013
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has been tweeting about nuclear diplomacy since he began campaigning for the office in May. Rouhani previously served as chief negotiator for Iran's nuclear team during his term as secretary of the country's Supreme National Security Council from 1989 to 2005. He tweeted the following about the deal:
Undoubtedly, reaching this deal will be in the interest of all countries in d region, global peace & progress & in line w/ win-win approach
— Hassan Rouhani (@HassanRouhani) November 24, 2013
U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron praised U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and UK Foreign Secretary William Hague for their efforts during the negotiations.
Strong progress from @WilliamJHague and @JohnKerry on #Iran. Nowhere near the end - but a sign the pressure is working.
— David Cameron (@David_Cameron) November 24, 2013
Hague and Kerry also tweeted about the agreement.
Negotiations were painstaking. Tomorrow hard work begins of implementing and building on the agreement #IranTalks
— William Hague (@WilliamJHague) November 24, 2013
Agreement in Geneva: first step makes world safer. More work now. -JK #IranTalks
— Department of State (@StateDept) November 24, 2013
Turkish President Abdullah Gül and Queen Noor Al Hussein of Jordan also chimed in with their support of the agreement.
This is a major step forward.I hope it'll be sealed with a final agreement soon.I congratulate all parties for their constructive engagement
— Abdullah Gül (@cbabdullahgul) November 24, 2013
#IranDeal reflects understandng that isolation & marginalization of any community/nation leads 2extremism on all sides ie #zero-sum politics
— Noor Al Hussein (@QueenNoor) November 24, 2013
However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was not enthusiastic about the deal.
What was achieved last night in Geneva is not an historic agreement; it is an historic mistake
— Benjamin Netanyahu (@netanyahu) November 24, 2013
He futher clarified his position with the following series of tweets:
This is not a historic agreement, it's a historic mistake. Lifting the pressure, this "first step", might be the last step. 1/5 #BadDeal
— Benjamin Netanyahu (@netanyahu) November 24, 2013
Like the agreement reached with North Korea in 2005, this agreement has made the world a much more dangerous place. 2/5
— Benjamin Netanyahu (@netanyahu) November 24, 2013
For years the intl community has demanded that Iran cease uranium enrichment. Now it consents to it, in direct contravention of UNSC res 3/5
— Benjamin Netanyahu (@netanyahu) November 24, 2013
Iran is taking only cosmetic steps that could easily reversed, and in return, sanctions that took years to put in place will be eased. 4/5
— Benjamin Netanyahu (@netanyahu) November 24, 2013
Without continued pressure, what incentive does Iran have to take serious steps that actually dismantle its nuclear weapons capability? 5/5
— Benjamin Netanyahu (@netanyahu) November 24, 2013
Saudi Arabia is another nation that has expressed hesitation about the Iran nuclear deal, though not as vocally as Israel.
Calling it an "important first step," Obama, like other leaders, was careful not to oversell the deal.
"Over the next six months, we will work to negotiate a comprehensive solution," Obama said, noting that Iran should still be able to pursue "peaceful" nuclear energy. "But because of its record of violating its obligations, Iran must accept strict limitations on its nuclear program that make it impossible to develop a nuclear weapon."
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