Iran nuclear talks: Obama sows seed of hope for a new era of co-operation with Tehran

Mr Obama did not answer directly when asked whether he would have to use military force to stop Iran getting a nuclear weapon if the deal fell through

Mr Obama did not answer directly when asked whether he would have to use military force to stop Iran getting a nuclear weapon if the deal fell through (Getty)

President Barack Obama says a constructive relationship with Iran could be a by-product of the deal to limit its nuclear programme, but it won’t happen immediately – if at all.

Mr Obama told CNN in an interview aired on Sunday that Iran’s “nuclear problem” must be dealt with first.

He said the agreement reached last month to remove crippling economic sanctions on Iran in exchange for restrictions on its nuclear programme achieves that goal “better than any alternative”. Republican politicians largely disagree with Mr Obama’s assessment that the deal blocks Iran’s path to a nuclear weapon, as do some of his own Democrats.

Mr Obama said resolving the nuclear issue makes it possible to open broader talks with Iran on other issues. He named Syria as an example.

“Is there the possibility that, having begun conversations around this narrow issue, you start getting some broader discussions about Syria, for example, and the ability of all the parties involved to try to arrive at a political transition that keeps the country intact and does not further fuel the growth of [Isis] and other terrorist organizations? I think that’s possible,” Mr Obama said. “But I don’t think it happens immediately.”

Mr Obama was interviewed by CNN’s Fareed Zakaria last Thursday, hours before Chuck Schumer, the Senate’s leading Jewish Democrat, announced he would oppose the agreement. Congress is expected to vote in September on a measure “disapproving” the deal, to which Mr Obama has promised a veto. Politicians would then have to find enough votes to override Mr Obama.

In the interview, Mr Obama did not answer directly when asked whether he would have to use military force to stop Iran getting a nuclear weapon if the deal fell through. “I have a general policy on big issues like this not to anticipate failure.”