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President Obama speaks in the Rose Garden of the White House on Thursday. Photograph: Susan Walsh/AP

Related: Obama fights to contain Republican rebellion over Iran nuclear deal

President Barack Obama on Saturday again called the nuclear accord reached with Iran this week a good deal, as he continued to face fierce opposition on the issue from Republicans.

In what the president called a historic understanding, Iran agreed on Thursday to a framework deal that would dramatically constrain its nuclear program in return for the gradual lifting of economic sanctions.

This framework is the result of tough, principled diplomacy, Obama said in his weekly address to the nation. Its a good deal a deal that meets our core objectives, including strict limitations on Irans program and cutting off every pathway that Iran could take to develop a nuclear weapon.

Under the broad deal, which was negotiated with other world powers, Iran is allowed to keep its nuclear facilities, which it insists are for peaceful uses and which will be subject to enhanced inspections. The deal is not yet final.

Opposition in Washington has been brewing since the start of the talks nearly 18 months ago. But with a final deal in sight, Republicans and some Democrats are demanding a say in the decision to relieve sanctions.

Obama has repeated that the deal will be called off if Iran balks at any stage, saying the deal is not based on trust but rather unprecedented verification.

On Saturday, former governor of Arkansas Mike Huckabee, a possible presidential candidate in 2016, added his voice to Republican opposition to the deal saying he doubted anything from Iran was verifiable, and criticizing Secretary of State John Kerry and the Obama administration over the way the negotiations played out.

Were expecting something good from bad people, he said on CNN.

Link:
Obama: Iran deal blocks 'every pathway' to development of nuclear weapon