US Secretary of State John Kerry told skeptical members of Congress that the nuclear deal reached between Iran and world powers served the interests of the United States.

US Secretary of State John Kerry told skeptical members of Congress that the nuclear deal reached between Iran and world powers served the interests of the United States.

Talking before the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Tuesday, Kerry warned lawmakers that the deal could unravel if they pass new sanctions against Tehran.
“We're asking you to give our negotiators and our experts the time and space to negotiate,” he said.

Some members of Congress have been skeptical of the temporary agreement reached between Iran and the five members of the UN Security Council plus Germany in Geneva last month because it allows Iran to continue to enrich uranium.

The top US diplomat, who was present at the negotiating sessions in Geneva, said world powers could back away from the deal “if we appear to be going off on a tangent.”

Kerry reiterated that the goal of the current deal was to set the stage for a comprehensive, long-term agreement that would resolve the decade-old dispute with Iran over its nuclear energy program.

“This is very delicate diplomatic moment. … We have an obligation to give these negotiations a chance to succeed,” Kerry told lawmakers.