Iran Calls Nuclear Pact a Western ‘Surrender’

Republicans say it is up to Democrats whether new Iran sanctions pass the Senate to ensure Tehran sticks to a deal with the White House to open up its nuclear program to inspections.

Diplomats said Tuesday that the United Nations nuclear agency will convene a meeting Jan. 24 of the agency's leading nations on the deal reached between Tehran and six world powers — an agreement described Tuesday by Iran's president as representing the “surrender” of Western powers to his country's demands.

“Do you know what the Geneva agreement means? It means the surrender of the big powers before the great Iranian nation,” Hassan Rouhani told a crowd in the oil-rich province of Khuzestan.

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Mark Dubowitz, executive director of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, which has supported tougher sanctions on Iran, says it's a desire for improved chances for a negotiated solution and not war that motivates the Senate.

“You need enhanced negotiating leverage,” to get the best results, he said.

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