Obama to hold news conference on Iran

President Obama will hold a press conference on Wednesday to answer questions about the nuclear agreement with Iran.

Spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters aboard Air Force One the news conference will be held in the East Room of the White House ahead of the president’s trip to Oklahoma.

{mosads}The event is part of the White House’s effort to build public support for the deal.

Six world powers and Iran finalized an agreement to curb Teheran’s nuclear program in exchange for billions of dollars in international sanctions relief.

The agreement handed Obama a major foreign policy achievement late in his second term, but faces skepticism from members of Congress and the public.

Polls show the public supports the broad outlines of the deal, but doubt it will work. According to a Monmouth University survey released on Tuesday, a majority of Americans, 55 percent, say they don’t trust Iran will abide by the terms of the agreement.

Lawmakers have 60 days to review the deal and vote on it. Republicans are launching an effort to kill the deal in Congress, and some Democrats have voiced concern about the specifics of the agreement.

The president argued Tuesday the use of diplomacy to curb Iran’s nuclear program, rather than military force, is the best way to prevent Tehran from developing a nuclear weapon.

And he said the deal would promote greater stability in the region, despite concerns from Israel and the Gulf State allies.

“No deal means a greater chance of more war in the Middle East,” he said.