years of diplomacy culminating in intense talks in vienna iran will now face strict controls on its nuclear program in return for the lifting of international economic sanctions. u.s. president barack obama says this agreement is the best way to stop iran from acquiring a nuclear bomb. mark thompson has the story. mark: a deal pitched as a

victory for all sides. the agreement between world powers and iran will see the country limit its nuclear program. in returns, sanctions that have had a stranglehold on the country's economy will be lifted. president obama: because of this deal, the international community will be able to verify that the islamic republic of iran will not develop a nuclear weapon. mark: it comes after two years of cap talks and more than a decade of international pressure. iran has agreed to allow the inspection of its nuclear plants. u.n. inspectors will also be allowed to monitor military sites, or the requests can be challenge. the country will destroy 98% of its enriched uranium stockpile and build no nuclear reactors for at least a decade. a partial u.n. arms embargo and the will remain in place for a further five and eight years respectively. sanctions can also be restored if iran breaks the agreement. in return, the so-called p5 plus

one, including the u.s., u.k., france, germany, russia, and china, have agreed to lift u.n., eu, and u.s. financial sanctions , allow iran to continue its enrichment process, including centrifuges, for research and develop them, and enable iran to export and import arms on a case-by-case basis. >> our overriding objective was to ensure that nuclear enrichment specific nuclear enrichment, had to be able to continue in iran. the second red line was the unfair sanctions slapped on a population should be lifted. mark: the iaea, too, has signed a revamp agreement with iran. that deal will attempt to clarify past and present outstanding issues with the country's nuclear program. laura: the deal has been greeted with dismay by obama's opponents in the u.s., among them senator and republican president joe kennedy lindsey graham who called the deal -- presidential

candidate lindsey graham, who called the deal a dangerous and irresponsible step. our correspondent philip crowther is there. a lot of republicans and some democrats as well are opposed to the of, but obama says he will veto any attempt to scuttle it could talk us through what happens now. philip: looking at vienna a long time now i think all eyes will be on washington for quite some time. congress will have around two months time to review this deal that still hasn't been signed yet. congress and also reject it. this is not a case of the u.s. congress -- the senate and house of representatives -- ratifying this. it is not a treaty, after all. but what congress can do is block any sanctions relief that would be part of this deal. that is how this u.s. congress tends double the deal. -- 10 scuttle the deal. it is largely republicans on one side and democrats on the other. pretty much every republican

inverness will vote against this deal, and also come all the republican presidential candidates are against this deal with iran. the israeli government as well is of course against it. and crucially, the pro-israel lobby -- that includes the very powerful aipac lobby with a lot of influence in congress. democrats largely will stay on the side of president obama. what republicans need is a two thirds majority in the u.s. congress. they need about a dozen democrats to come on their side to override the presidential veto that has already been threatened by the u.s. president. that is very difficult to do. chances are this deal will go through. but it might be an ugly situation, because the presidential veto against a vote in congress is never a pretty thing to use. laura: you mentioned israel's opposition to the deal. saudi arabia is also against it. these are the u.s.'s top allies in the middle east. philip: well, the relationships

with those two countries certainly haven't improved overnight. this is a president who knows who he needs to call now. we are told by the white house he will be calling the 70 king salman at some point today -- the saudi king salman sometime today. we haven't gotten the readout yet from the white house. yes already called israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu. these are important regional allies with united states, who are, of course, not happy that there appeared to have been very clear overtures from the united states toward iran. the united states is now seen as having divided loyalties in that region by both saudi arabia and israel. and certainly the united states is seen by prime minister of israel as making the world more dangerous place. you already know that the relationship between netanyahu and obama is not a good one. we know they were on the phone with each other earlier today and did not appear to agree on

much. just a case of obama noting and stating things to benjamin netanyahu. no indication of any kind of agreement between these two men recently don't get along. laura: as far as obama is concerned, some are calling this his nixon in china moment. is this the foreign policy legacy he is looking for? philip: well, that was in a 72 when president nixon opened up to what was an enemy at the time. that is a similar certainly in terms of foreign policy outreach . what president obama won't do is you won't go into the country. the white house has been asked whether this is a president who might travel to iran at some point. certainly not is pretty much the reply from the white house because the administration still has serious worries about iran. the human rights record is one and more importantly, there are still four u.s. citizens being detained by iran. this is not a relationship that has -- is completely perfect all

of a sudden. but the tactic used by obama speaking to the united states and maybe we could say former enemies has worked in two cases -- cuba very recently, and iran now. laura: philip crowther reporting from washington. as you have been hearing israel's prime minister has been one of the most vocal critics of the deal with iran could tension netanyahu says that the whole world -- benjamin netanyahu says the whole world, not just israel, is at greater risk. pm netanyahu: the world is a much more dangerous place today than it was yesterday. the leading international powers have that our collective future on a deal with a formal sponsor of international terrorism. they have gambled that intent years time iran's terrorist regime will change while removing any incentive for it to do so. laura: joining me on the light is israel's former finance minister also head of the

centrist party. thank you for joining us on "france 24." you said prime minister netanyahu should resign over his failure to stop this deal. it is hard to see what more he could have done. what would you have done differently. mr. lapid: excuse me, but i will not criticize in english on international media israeli prime minister. when he said to the israeli audience has to do with the way we see things. i agreed completely with prime minister on the fact that this is a dangerous agreement, not the agreement we were hoping for. i cannot ask for the majority of people to read through the 159 pages of this agreement. so why don't you just take a look at 74-78 page or even less, which has to do with the inspection mechanism, to see what absurd this whole agreement is.

this mechanism says that if somebody spots some sort of iranian deceit, and the iranians come as we know, have been engaged in deceit and lying and cheating throughout the past decade or so -- if the inspectors know about some sort of deceit, they have to form in writing to request to inspect and then the iranians have 14 days, and after the 14 days, the iranians can suggest alternative ways to verify. there was another seven-days period for discussion in the joint committee and then there was another three days of waiting. all in all, from the moment they know some thing's to the moment they are allowed to go anywhere near the facilities, it is 24 days. you can develop a whole new nuclear program. this is dangerous. laura: well, the alternative was that there was no monitoring at all. iran will now be subject to the

most stringent monitoring by the iaea than any other country on earth. before, there was no monitoring at all. surely this is better. mr. lapid: does what i just described to you sound to you like tight monitoring? this is not monitoring at all. this is why i am saying it is an absurdity. this is not monitoring. monitoring is when the inspectors have the right to pop up from the round at any given moment to make sure to nobody's cheating. this is monitoring. what i have described to you, which is taken strictly from the agreement, has nothing to do with monitoring. it is an open invitation to lie and she, an open invitation being fed to a regime that has been lying and cheating for more than a decade. so excuse me for not looking at this and saying, well, this is the proper way to monitor the iranian nuclear program. let me remind you nobody knew

about the facility in natanz. the iranian opposition has found out about this. laura: yes, but under different leadership, there was a different print -- there is a different president in iran now. israel has been saying for many years now that iran is trying to build a nuclear bomb. it still doesn't have one. even members of the mossad say benjamin netanyahu is wrong on this. mr. lapid: when you say is just wrong. natanz -- ayatollah company is still the supreme leader and has been for a decade. the president from ahmadinejad -- not even second in command, third or fourth. khamanei was the leader then and is the leader now and it is the exact same regime, execs a method, and the fact that the world is allowing them to get

away with such an agreement -- laura: but they still don't have a bomb. israel has been saying for years that iran is building a bomb in many years later they still don't have one. mr. lapid: this is because the sanctions were effective, and because the iranian economy -- it is not that easy. now it will be that much easier. they will have more money, more ability to approach the international technological market. it will be much easier for them to develop in hiding, as they did before, the nuclear program. the fact that the nuclear program -- they didn't get the bomb was due to the fact that the sanctions were very effective. we are taking a tool that was very effective and throwing it away for an agreement that is self-declared is not effective. laura: ok, the sanctions have not been punishing the iranian regime directly. they been punishing the iranian people. is it wrong to keep sanctions on a country in perpetuity?

the situation in the middle is has changed. iran is not necessarily the most dangerous country in the region. we can see what is going on in iraq and syria, for example. isn't it time that iran is brought out of the cold and there are some negotiations? surely this is a positive thing. mr. lapid: first of all, i have to disagree again, if you excuse me. i hope one day we will have a conversation where we can agree more, but this time we have to disagree wit. iran is the most dangerous country in the region. powers in the region that are not state powers like isis or al qaeda, but in terms of the iranians, almost a regional superpower in terms of their ability. i don't think you can say it is not dangerous to the country that is financing hezbollah and hamas and all of those organizations, including the ones working in iraq.

to say that iran is not a dangerous country anymore is just wrong. aside from that, if you look at the history of iran, you know that they methodically cheated the world about their real intentions, and of course, everybody in his right mind is sorry to hear about the fact that the iranian people are suffering, but the iranian people are supporting this regime. and demonstrating in hundreds of thousands, holding flags burning flags of the united states and israel, calling us the little devil, and of course, calling again and again and again formally for the destruction of israel. you will have to excuse me for not been very tolerant. this is an issue -- unlike the united states, we are in range. when we talk about the iranian bomb, you have to remember that we are the country in range, and b, we are the declared target of the bomb. only two nations in which one

has declared that once the total destruction of another. laura: israel -- mr. lapid: and you expect us to be liberal and tolerant about this? laura: the israeli prime ministers the one who has been talking about military strikes on iran, not the other way around. very briefly, i want to ask you what will israel's strategy being out for relations with the united states, under a lot of straight right now. will you be looking to build alliances in the region with the saudis, who are also opposed to this deal, with egypt? mr. lapid: we will deal with anyone who is opposing this patio, including the present congress. i don't think we should do this behind the back of the white house. i think the white house should note exactly what we are doing. we are not going to play hide and seek with them. but as soon as we are -- again we are declared targets of any future iranian bomb.

i think we are entitled to our friends around the world and around the region, and the people who are not friends with us from disagreeing with israel the least we can do is change the terms of inspections in order to approve snap inspections that will help prevent iran from developing secret nuclear weapons program. laura: thank you very much indeed for joining us. well, the other country gravely opposed to this deal, of course is saudi arabia. i am joined on the line now by the author of a book, "arabian wargames." thank you for being with us here on "france 24." we just heard some of the opposition from israel. i don't know if you were able to listen in on that. explain my the arab gulf states

are so opposed to the deal and how can we expect them to react now? ali: look, the issue is not so much nuclear weapons, it is empowering iran to be able to play a much bigger role in the region. you have to remember that iran is in iraq today, virtually controlling the country. it is in syria and empowering the president of syria to continue killing his people. it is in lebanon. it is in yemen. it is mischief making in bahrain and saudi arabia. there is tremendous concern among the goal states that -- by bringing iran in from the cold and allowing iran to present itself as a reasonable power, as a power that wants peace and to be a respected member of the international community, italy and how is iran by giving more wealth and the benefit of the doubt on the international political stage as it continues

to do what it has been doing for the last 10 years. you have to remember that iran spent a tremendous amount of money, despite sanctions despite the fact that his people were suffering, it spent billions of dollars in syria billions of dollars for hezbollah and lebanon. in iran, in virtually controls iraq today. it has been supporting the who's the rebels -- the houthi rebels in yemen. it has an ambitious agenda in the gulf, and this agreement will bring it out of the cold. i don't think people are surprised in the gulf, i don't think people are surprised in the kingdom. they realized what was going to happen, they understand that president obama sees this as a major achievement for him. they think he may be a little bit naïve, but there is little they can do about it. the issue for the gulf to do is to try to strengthen military capabilities and bring the gulf countries closer together and maybe integrate yemen somehow so that it is better able to

resist iran. laura: to what extent do you think the conflict in syria and iraq has played a role in bringing iran out of the diplomatic cold? the situation in the middle east has changed. the islamic state is now seen as the most dangerous enemy for western countries. we have seen that iranian militias are fighting the islamic state groups in iraq. do you think that played a major role in this? ali: iran is an arsonist that is cleverly selling itself as a fireman. the proxies and the policy of prime minister maliki in iraq played a tremendous role in the creation of isis, and the policies in syria have later tremendous role in the creation of isis. iran is responsible for a lot of the traction that isis has gotten. in one way they are responsible for it, and now they are

cleverly coming out saying that we are the only ones with boots on the ground who can fight isis. there is a constituency in america analyst that is following that argument. but frankly, the more iran has boots on the ground and the more active it is in iraq and syria the more empowered isis will be among the sunni communities in syria and iraq, and the more dangerous it will be. what isis serves the interests of iran. isis has not attacked baghdad, has not attacked iran. isis has been controlling sunni areas, and the iranians know that. it is really a full analogy -- false analogy to make, and a very clever argument by the iranians one made by the foreign minister a few days ago in the "financial times," that iran will help you stop isis when they have been one of the main drivers of the creation and perpetuation of isis. laura: it was clearly very difficult for this deal to be reached between world powers and iran. the incentive -- the alternative was no deal at all.

surely it is always better to talk to regimes, to reach out to regimes can rather than engage in an endless situation of hostility and animosity. iran has been subject to a very tough economic sanctions for more than a decade now. that cannot continue indefinitely, could it? ali: no, it could include i don't think anybody wanted to put iran in a box indefinitely. however, on the short term the iranian government has shown that economic development is not inspiring. if it was its priority it would not have wasted billions of dollars, very valuable foreign-exchange, to support syria and its allies in iraq and yemen and lebanon, etc. this is an ideological theological regime that has different priorities. the supreme leader is not the prime minister of singapore. these are people with political

objectives in the region that, for the economic diamonds of the people. that is what is so frightening you can't keep iran in a box. it is an important country and its people have to live their life. but it is a great concern, and that is something that people in saudi arabia and the gulf are extremely worried about today. laura: thank you very much indeed for joining us. ali: thank you. laura: moving to other news this tuesday, greek prime minister alexis tsipras is trying to persuade lawmakers to accept a plan for third eurozone bailout deal. the deal involves tough austerity measures for greece. if the country doesn't receive 86 billion euros in aid from the eurozone, it will be forced out of the common currency. well, today is the 14th of july the day france remembers the storming of the bastille. today's military parade on the champs elysées took place out of the tightest security in years and among those taking part,

soldiers who have been helping to keep the country safe following the terrorist attacks in january. reporter: it is the tradition that dates back to the 19th century to commemorate the start of the french revolution. the 14th of july military parade in paris is a national institution. this year's takes on particular significance because these 21 individuals who represent the special counterterrorist unit have been invited for the first time to take part. >> the elite units of the r.a.i. d. and g.i.g.n played a role.. it is great that the nation has gathered together to show support for those in charge of our security. reporter: it is a rare moment in the spotlight for the officers, who normally work in the shadows. those who are still operational

are wearing helmets and sunglasses to preserve your anonymity for thousands of spectators gathered here, it is a chance to pay a much -- pay homage to those who risk their lives in january and operate in the face of fear. >> spectators gathered here, it is a chance to pay a it is important to come out and show we are not afraid. life goes on. reporter: since the attacks come around seven thousand troops have been mobilized around the country as part of a domestic security clampdown. about half that number marched along the champs elysées on tuesday to salute president a lot and his guest of honor, as president all on, and his guest of honor the mexican head of state pena nieto. since "charlie hebdo," the side of our troops on the streets -- on troops on the streets of paris have become the norm. laura: a nasa spacecraft has made history good the unmanned new horizons craft past pluto. many of it believe it to be this will assist him's -- the solar

system's most outermost planet. images are some the spectacular. take a look. >> 3, 2, 1. reporter: a decade of traveling as earth gets a fresh perspective of one of its smallest labors. its autonomous new horizons spacecraft made man's first flying visit to pluto, the climax of its laundry. and the probe is already -- climax of its long journey. in the probe is already very free. scientists have discovered that pluto is some 20-30 kilometers bigger than previously thought. they have seen evidence of polar icecaps and escaping pockets of oxygen. >> pluto has turned out to be a conflict an interesting world. of course it would be, but there was never a certainty. but now for the very first time, we know that. reporter: the probe will

investigate pluto's five moons, as well as the dwarf planet. since is infected -- new horizons is expected to get more pictures and data before going home again on wednesday. at this point it is expected to deliver the first high-resolution pictures of pluto

rom pacifica, this is democracy now! >> today after two years of negotiations, the united states together with our international partners has achieved something that decades of animosity has not. a conference of long-term deal with iran that will prevent it from obtaining a nuclear weapon. amy: in what's been described as a historic moment, a deal has been reached to curb iran's nuclear program in exchanging for a lifting of sanctions. we will go to vienna for the