Obama says Iran nuke deal 'only' alternative to war in Middle East

U.S. President Barack Obama has said that the debate over the historic nuclear agreement with Iran was a choice between 'diplomacy' and 'war' and urged critics to come clean that their only viable alternative to the accord would be military action.

While speaking to reporters at the White House, Obama also stressed that critics of the deal, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, have failed to provide an honest alternative to the deal, which he said was backed by almost 99 percent of the world and majority of nuclear experts, reported The Guardian.

In a veiled reference to Democrats, who have to be kept onboard to ensure the deal survives an offensive from the Congress, Obama warned of another war in the Middle East and a possible nuclear arms race in the most dangerous part of the world, if there was no deal.

Under the newly-struck accord, the economic sanctions that have crippled Tehran's economy will gradually be lifted after it shrinks its nuclear infrastructure and accepts extensive surveillance at enrichment sites.

However, the deal must face a Congress onslaught.

Critics of the deal claim that Tehran cannot be trusted and have been urging the international community to not accept any nuclear activity on Iranian soil whatsoever.