Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has come out in support of Thursday’s deal with Iran, but she also hedged her bets a bit, saying, “the devil is always in the details.”
Her full statement reads as follows:
The understanding that the major world powers have reached with Iran is 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.
President Obama and Secretary Kerry have been persistent and determined in pursuit of this goal building on a decade of bipartisan pressure and diplomacy. Getting the rest of the way to a final deal by June won’t be easy, but it is absolutely crucial.
The devil is always in the details in this kind of negotiation.
So, I strongly support President Obama and Secretary Kerry’s efforts between now and June to reach a final deal that verifiably cuts off all of Iran’s paths to a nuclear weapon, imposes an intrusive inspection program with no sites off limits, extends breakout time, and spells out clear and overwhelming consequences for violations.
The onus is on Iran and must be set high. 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.
There is much to do and much more to say in the months ahead, but for now diplomacy deserves a chance to succeed.