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Historic Deal Reached at Nuclear Talks; Aired 10-10:30a ET

Aired July 14, 2015 - 10:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[10:00:01] CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: A historic deal. The United States and other world powers reached an agreement with Iran, keeping that country from developing a nuclear weapon for at least 10 years. So what's in the deal and what does Congress have to say?

Plus, a multimillion dollar reward for the capture of El Chapo. The notorious Mexican drug lord breaks out of prison and then tweets at Donald Trump? At least that's what the candidate claims.

And closing arguments expected next hour for James Holmes, the man accused in the Colorado movie theater shooting. Did his defense team prove he's insane?

Let's talk. Live in the CNN NEWSROOM.

And good morning. I'm Carol Costello. Thank you so much for joining me.

A new chapter of history written this morning. Iran agrees to a landmark deal limiting its future development of nuclear weapons. The U.S.-led talks had dragged on for months and fired up critics from Capitol Hill to Washington's key allies in the region. They say Iran gains more than it loses in the deal.

The main goal, preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons for at least 10 years. It will also allow 24/7 inspections of Iran's known nuclear sites and those suspected of playing a role. And in exchange Iran will see the lifting of the international sanctions that have crippled its economy, but that will not happen right away.

Reaction from across the political spectrum coming in fast this morning. Right now we're waiting for statements from the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and from also House Speaker John Boehner. He's expected to speak about Iran in his weekly address. That gets under way any moment now.

We've got our eyes on both of those events. Actually you see John Boehner approaching the podium. Do we want to take that live now? All right. Let's take it live now. Here is House Speaker John Boehner.

REP. JOHN BOEHNER (R), HOUSE SPEAKER: You know, at the outset of the Iran negotiations, the Obama administration said that a good deal would affirm that Iran does not have the right to enrich. They also said that keeping sanctions in place until Iran met concrete, verifiable standards, and they believed that they had to stop Iran's drive for a nuclear bomb.

Listen, the president has abandoned all of those goals, and that's why the deal that we have out there in my view, from what I know thus far, is unacceptable. It's going to be -- it's going to hand a dangerous regime billions of dollars in sanctions relief while paving the way for a nuclear Iran. And this isn't about Democrats or Republicans. It's not a partisan issue at all. It's about right versus wrong, and we're going to do everything we can to get to the details and if, in fact, it's as bad a deal as I think it is at this moment, we'll do everything we can to stop it.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The president announced this morning --

COSTELLO: All right. We'll pop out of that. As you can see John Boehner does not like this deal with Iran. Of course, we've got other team coverage to share with you right now. Nic Robertson is in Vienna where that deal has been struck and CNN's Michelle Kosinski is at the White House where the new challenge begins, selling the plan to skeptics. But let's talk about the plan itself and perhaps why Republicans are so upset with this deal.

Nic Robertson, tell us more about this pact.

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, we know that one of the toughest issues was Iran's demand that it should have an arms embargo. A U.N. Security Council arms embargo lifted. And that appears that that was one of the last pieces to fall into the puzzle last night.

Secretary Kerry meeting with the EU Foreign Policy chief and Sergei Lavrov, the Russian Foreign minister who we know was what wanted to have the sanctions lifted on Iran, including that arms embargo. And some ways into that meeting the Iranian Foreign Minister Zarif was brought into the meeting. All the other staff left that meeting, and it was after that the deal was pretty much concluded. Secretary Kerry, we're told, making a phone call to President Obama.

What has resulted out of that part of the deal that seems to be the last part of the negotiation that Iran will have this arms embargo lifted in five years' time and a ballistic missile ban lifted in eight years' time. This certainly may be fuel on the fire of those who would criticize this agreement, but we've heard as well details today that spell out just how strict the adhering to the terms of agreement Iran must be, 24/7 inspections.

Snapback on sanctions if Iran doesn't comply with what it signed up to, and the sort of time limit that Iran can prevaricate on the ground with those weapons inspectors very limited before it would be escalated right back to U.N. Security Council -- Carol.

COSTELLO: I want to ask you about this, too, Nic, because we keep hearing from critics that this deal that -- this deal would actually pave the way to a nuclear Iran.

[10:05:07] The president brought up something interesting that I had not heard before, perhaps you have. He said that Iran currently has a stockpile that could produce up to 10 nuclear weapons. He says under this deal that stockpile would be reduced to a fraction of what would be required for a single weapon. Can you talk more about that?

ROBERTSON: Sure. What Iran has at the moment is 12,000 kilograms of low enriched uranium. That low enriched uranium. It's sort of percentage of around 5 percent. You have to enrich that up a significant amount to get it up to sort of weapons grade, 90 percent. So that 12,000 kilograms you reduce to a smaller amount by enriching it up, but the amount that you're left with from that original 12,000 kilograms is enough, we understand, to build that weapon plus, of course, a heavy water reactor plant making weapons grade plutonium enough each year, we're told, to make one or two weapons there.

So the agreement to reduce that low enriched uranium stockpile from 12,000 kilograms to 300 kilograms. That's a 98 percent reduction, and that 300 kilograms of what we're told is -- around about 3.6, 3.7 low enriched uranium, that's a level of enrichment you need for nuclear power stations.

Again, you would need to take that 300 kilograms and reduce it massively to enrich it up to weapons grade. There simply isn't enough in that 300 kilograms to make a bomb. That's the sort of numbers we're talking about here, Carol.

COSTELLO: All right. Nic Robertson, many thanks for that. Because you know I always like to deal in facts. Thank you so much.

Nic Robertson reporting live for us.

Let's head to the White House now and check in with White House correspondent Michelle Kosinski.

Michelle, you heard John Boehner say it paves the way for a nuclear Iran, this is a terrible deal. What are other lawmakers saying this morning?

MICHELLE KOSINSKI, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: We're hearing a lot from them. And you know, the White House is saying that the president welcomes the opportunity to speak to Congress. We know that he called congressional leadership last night. Congress is going to be briefed. The president is going to reach out to foreign leaders. He's going to speak to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who has been especially vocal in opposite to this deal and we know the push really starts today.

The president stood before the public, before the world, and confidently stated that he feels this deal meets its goal of preventing Iran from getting a nuclear weapon. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Because of this deal, the international community will be able to verify that the Islamic Republic of Iran will not develop a nuclear weapon. This deal meets every single one of the bottom lines that we established when we achieved a framework earlier this spring. Every pathway to a nuclear weapon is cut off.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KOSINSKI: And some members of Congress have been using strong words to describe their opposition. I mean, saying that the president abandoned his original objectives, that this is only going to embolden Iran, that the original goal was to dismantle Iran's nuclear program but now that goal has moved to just managing its proliferation. And we're also hearing some skepticism from Democrats, too, saying they really want to take a good, hard look at this deal and see if this meets the questions and answers the questions that they still have.

Among them are, what about the fact that Iran still has some nuclear capability, including research and development? So at the end of 10 or 15 years are they going to be able to go for a weapon? Are they going to be in a good position to do that because we haven't completely dismantled their nuclear program?

What the White House is saying over and over again is that 15 years from now when many of these stipulations have expired, that will put the world in a better place in terms of the risk from Iran's nuclear program than it is now. And keep in mind the president is also saying that he will veto any move by Congress to prevent the implementation of this deal -- Carol.

COSTELLO: All right. Michelle Kosinski reporting live from the White House this morning. Thank you.

It is important to remember that this deal still needs to move through Congress. Last hour I talked with presidential hopeful, Senator Lindsey Graham. He responded to the president's promise to use veto power if lawmakers reject this deal.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. LINDSEY GRAHAM (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Get out your pen because you're going to have to. This is not going to sell to the Congress or the American people. It won't sell to the Arabs. Certainly not going to sell to the Israelis.

And Mr. President, you want a robust debate, you're going to get one. You have been dangerously naive about the Mideast, you and John Kerry have. You have allowed the region to go into flames. Radical Islam on the Sunni side is running wild. Now you're giving the largest state sponsor in terrorism an infusion of cash, a large nuclear program that over time will turn into a bomb.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: All right. That's Senator Lindsey Graham. I want to bring in CNN senior Washington correspondent Jeff Zeleny.

[10:10:02] And, Jeff, I just want you to know I'm keeping a close eye on this coming press conference from Benjamin Netanyahu. Once he begins speaking I'll have to interrupt you and it's getting close now. But can you respond to Senator Graham's assertion that the American people are totally against any deal with Iran?

JEFF ZELENY, CNN SENIOR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: Well, Senator Graham certainly is right when it comes to most Republicans, Carol, and that is where most 2016 Republican presidential candidates are siding with. They are saying this is a bad deal, but, of course, whoever wins this presidential campaign is going to essentially inherit whatever happens. And Hillary Clinton is on Capitol Hill right now, and Carol, just a few moments ago I am told she told a closed door meeting of House Democrats that she supports the broad concept of this deal.

Of course, when she was secretary of state, she began the negotiations. She helped pave the way for the framework of this deal. So we have not yet heard from her directly, but I am told behind closed doors just a few minutes ago she said that she supported the broad outline of this deal. They need to review it, of course, but work toward this.

So Carol, this is going to be a central issue in this presidential campaign. Foreign policy already has been, but this Iranian deal is going to be a major divide among Democrats and Republicans on the campaign trail as well as here on Capitol Hill.

COSTELLO: So, you know, Republicans control both Houses of Congress, so it is possible this deal will be rejected and that the president will veto it and it will go back and then you need a two-thirds majority to override his veto. So does he have enough support to support -- does President Obama have enough support to support his veto in Congress?

ZELENY: It's unclear. It's hard to --

COSTELLO: I'm going to have to interrupt you. Here he is, Benjamin Netanyahu.

BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER: The world is a much more dangerous place today than it was yesterday. The leading international powers have bet our collective future on a deal with the foremost sponsor of international terrorism. They've gambled that in 10 years' time Iran's terrorist regime will change while removing any incentive for it to do so. In fact, the deal gives Iran every incentive not to change.

In the coming decade, the deal will reward Iran, the terrorist regime in Tehran, with hundreds of billions of dollars. This cash bonanza will fuel Iran's terrorism worldwide, its aggression in the region, and its efforts to destroy Israel which are ongoing. Amazingly, this bad deal does not require Iran to cease its aggressive behavior in any way. And just last Friday that aggression was on display for all to see.

While the negotiators were closing the deal in Vienna, Iran's supposedly moderate president chose to go to a rally in Tehran, and at this rally --

COSTELLO: I apologize to you. We lost our signal. Just at a critical point, right? We're going to get that signal back. I'm going to take a break. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: All right. Let's go back to Benjamin Netanyahu.

NETANYAHU: He said, negotiations with the United States on the nuclear issues and on nothing else, and three days ago he made that clear again. The United States, he said, embodies global arrogance and the battle against it will continue unabated even after the nuclear agreement is concluded.

Here is Hassan Nasrallah, the head of Iran's terrorist proxy Hezbollah, said about sanctions relief, which is a key component of the deal. He said, a rich and strong Iran will be able to stand by its allies and friends in the region more than at any time in the past. Translation, Iran's support for terrorism and subversion will actually increase after the deal.

In addition to filling Iran's terror war chest, this deal repeats the mistakes made with North Korea. There, too, we were assured that inspections and verifications would prevent a rogue regime from developing nuclear weapons, and we all know how that ended.

[10:15:19] The bottom line of this very bad deal is exactly what Iran's President Rouhani said today. The international community is removing the sanctions, and Iran is keeping its nuclear program. By not dismantling Iran's nuclear program in a decade this deal will give an unreformed, unrepentant, and far richer terrorist regime the capacity to produce many nuclear bombs. In fact, an entire nuclear arsenal with the means to deliver it.

What a stunning historic mistake. Israel is not bound -- is not bound by this deal with Iran, and Israel is not bound by this deal with Iran because Iran continues to seek our destruction. We will always defend ourselves. Thank you.

COSTELLO: All right. That's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He said pretty much what you expected him to say, that this deal was a historic mistake that puts Israel in ever more danger.

Want to talk about this on the other side of a break. I'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[10:20:24] COSTELLO: Even as President Obama is hailing the Iran deal, a big fight lies ahead in Congress. Lawmakers have 60 days to review and hold hearings, and President Obama cannot waive sanctions during that time. The president does say, however, he will veto any bill that blocks the deal with Iran. It will then take a two-thirds majority in both chambers to override that veto.

If that does not happen, the Iran deal moves forward. So let's talk about that and more with Democratic Congressman Gregory Meeks of New York.

Welcome, sir.

REP. GREGORY MEEKS (D), NEW YORK: Good being with you. COSTELLO: First, your reaction to this deal?

MEEKS: Well, I think it's a huge deal as being reported. I think it's a significant deal, and now the devil is in the details. I, as a member of Congress, have the responsibility of reading it, evaluating it, and talking to individuals about it. You know, I plan on going to Vienna and talking to people from the IAEA and other scientists because the key is for me this deal is about stopping Iran from having a nuclear weapon. And so I want to be sure that's what this deal does.

COSTELLO: Republicans have been sharply critical of this deal. In fact, I interviewed Senator Lindsey Graham earlier today and I'll just read you some of what he said. He said, "Who in their right mind would allow the Iranians to have industrial sized nuclear power program that could withstand over the mere passage of time, given their behavior." He says the president has just guaranteed the Iranians in a 15-year period will have a nuclear program that will lead to a bomb.

He also said this. They're going to put money in their war machine, Iran. This is a death sentence for the state of Israel because you're ensuring every Arab nation is going to say we want a nuke of our own now. What do you think about those -- go ahead.

MEEKS: I disagree with all of that. Basically for the first time and I think this is a reason why -- another reason why the president should be applauded, it's not just the United States going at it alone. It's the entire international community which is tremendously important. That's the success of this deal, and it is, you know, think about what the alternative would be if we did not have everybody in line step.

Then it would be an unfettered control, no one could look at what Iran is going, no one would be able to stop them other than by maybe having to do what is necessary by war. We want that to be the last option. The first option should always be give diplomacy a chance and I might add that is not, you know, unthinkable of what -- you know, this happened before. I didn't agree a lot with, say, Ronald Reagan, but when he decided to have a negotiation to try to reduce an arms race with the Soviet Union, you know, you saw a lot of people that was battering him at the time.

So that's par for the course. That's politics. I hope we get bigger than politics. Let's talk to the scientists and those individuals that really know what will -- what it will take as far as inspections to prevent Iran from having a nuclear weapon.

COSTELLO: Well, let's talk about politics for just a bit because the president said, you know, Congress discuss, you're going to have these 60 days do discuss, but if you reject the deal, I'm going to veto it. Is that really the right tone to set at this particular time?

MEEKS: Well, I think that what the president is trying to get members of Congress to do the same thing that members of Congress did even when we went to Iraq. At least they reviewed, we had hearings, they gave the president the opportunity to have individuals from his administration come to talk to members, to talk about the deal. We went to whether it was the Pentagon or other places.

Let's talk about the facts because if you hear, as I heard some of my Republican colleagues talk about this morning, that automatically this is the worst deal in the world when they have not reviewed it, when they have not read it, when they have not talked to scientists, and that tells me that the president was just trying to address what they're doing, the political aspects of it, and urging them, give this a good look and then make a determination as to what -- how you will or will not vote.

COSTELLO: Israel is also mighty upset about this deal. Benjamin Netanyahu just said moments ago that Israel is not bound by this deal, and he said, we will always defend ourselves. What does he mean by that?

MEEKS: I don't know. You'd have to ask Mr. Netanyahu that, but I do know what the president of the United States said this morning, and he said that we will continue to work with our ally, Israel, that we will continue to make sure that they have what is necessary for their protection, that we will continue to be -- that they are our closest ally and we're going to make sure that they are safe and that it is -- if we do make sure that Iran does not have a nuclear weapon, it then is in the best interests of Israel, of our European allies, of the United States of America, and I think of people all over the world.

[10:25:06] COSTELLO: Congressman Gregory Meeks of New York, thanks so much for your insight. I appreciate it.

I'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: And good morning. I'm Carol Costello. Thank you so much for joining me. We're following breaking news this morning.

After nearly two years of tense negotiations, world powers have finally reached a nuclear deal with Iran. The main goal, to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon.

Earlier this morning President Obama hailed the agreement saying it moves the world one step away from conflict.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

OBAMA: This deal demonstrates that American diplomacy can bring about real and meaningful change, change that makes our country and the world safer and more secure. Today because America negotiated from a position of strength and principle, we have stopped the spread of nuclear weapons in this region.