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Hillary: ‘The onus is on Iran’

by Elliot Smilowitz - 04/02/15 7:48 PM ET

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton expressed support Thursday for the United States’s nuclear agreement with Iran, but warned that “the devil is always in the details.”

In a statement released Thursday evening, Clinton called the deal “an important step toward a comprehensive agreement that would prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon and strengthen the security of the United States, Israel, and the region.”

She praised President Obama and current Secretary of State John Kerry for being “persistent and determined in pursuit of this goal.”

{mosads}Clinton encouraged the U.S. to hold the line in the remaining negotiations to “reach a final deal that verifiably cuts off all of Iran’s paths to a nuclear weapon.”

“The onus is on Iran and the bar must be set high,” she said. “It can never be permitted to acquire a nuclear weapon.

“It is also vital that these efforts be part of a comprehensive strategy to check Iran’s regional ambitions, defend our allies and partners, and reinforce American leadership in the Middle East.”

The United States and allies announced Thursday they’d reached an outline of a deal with Iran that would lift international sanctions on the country in exchange for new limitations on its nuclear program.

President Obama called it a “historic” agreement that would leave the United States and its allies safe by preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

The deal has faced criticism from Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu, Republicans and some Democrats.

Tags Hillary Clinton John Kerry