Power backs Iran nuclear talks

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power on Monday said talks with Iran on its nuclear program will take time.

In response to criticism from Israel, Power defended a potential deal that would lift some sanctions on Iran in exchange for limits on its nuclear program.

{mosads}She described such a deal as a first step, and said it was unrealistic to think deeper concessions could be won immediately from Iran.

“This is a regime we do not trust any more than the Israelis trust this regime,” Power said on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.” “So to imagine down the line to go from zero to 60 without some kind of first step, I think, is unrealistic.

“This would allow us to gauge whether or not what they say is what they mean, and whether they are prepared to follow through,” she said of the initial deal.

Power was reacting to Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has called the proposed plan a “bad deal.”

Read more from The Hill.