1st LD Writethru: Obama urges U.S. Congress to ratify Iran nuclear deal

U.S. President Barack Obama Tuesday urged the U.S. Congress to ratify the deal reached over the Iranian nuclear issue between Iran and six major world powers, and threatened to veto if Congress prevented the deal's successful implementation.

The comprehensive agreement was clinched between Iran and the P5 Plus One group -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States plus Germany -- after more than two weeks of bargaining in Austria's capital, Vienna.

"I believe it would be irresponsible to walk away from the deal, but on such a tough issue, it is important that the American people and the representatives in Congress get a full opportunity to review the deal," Obama said in an early-morning address at the White House.

"I am confident that this deal will meet the national security interests of the United States and our allies, so I will veto any legislation that prevents the successful implementation of this deal."

The U.S. Congress has 60 days to review and vote on the Iran nuclear agreement.

Obama said the deal makes his country and the world "safer and more secure."

"I want to thank our negotiation partners -- the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Russia, China, as well as the European Union, for our unity in this effort, which showed that the world can do remarkable things when we share a vision of peacefully addressing conflict," Obama said.

"We showed what we can do when we do not split apart."

Obama said the agreement does not mean his country and Iran has resolved all of our differences.

"Our differences are real and the difficult history between our nations cannot be ignored, but it is possible to change," he said. Endi