Asia backs Iran deal, Kerry says A-Bomb anniversary relevant

The 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and five of their large neighbors endorsed the nuclear deal negotiated between Iran and six world powers, as US Secretary of State John Kerry said today's 70th anniversary of the Hiroshima bombing highlighted the importance of the accord in preventing the spread of atomic weapons.
In a joint statement, the foreign ministers of the ASEAN countries along with Australia, India, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea welcomed the deal with Iran struck last month as an "important resolution" that could resolve one of the world's most pressing concerns if it is adhered to. The statement was issued on the final day of a Southeast Asian regional security forum in Malaysia.

If the deal is fully implemented "the international community will be able to resolve this significant international security challenge, and to do so peacefully," said the statement. It said the deal would "ensure the exclusively peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear program," which many believe has been used as a cover for atomic weapons development. Iran denies that charge.
ASEAN includes Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam. Also signing the statement were China, Russia and the United States, which were involved in negotiating the agreement with Iran.
The public display of Asian support for the deal comes as President Barack Obama tries to convince skeptical U.S. lawmakers to back the accord, which would place curbs on Iran's nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief. On Wednesday, Obama delivered a speech in Washington defending the agreement and challenging opponents to come up with a viable alternative. He accused critics of "selling a fantasy" and warned Congress that blocking the accord would damage American credibility and increase the likelihood of more war in the Middle East.

As Obama makes the case for the agreement at home, Secretary of State John Kerry has been lobbying for support abroad. On Monday, the six members of the Gulf Cooperation Council Sunni-ruled Arab nations that fear Shiite Iran's increasing aggressiveness in the region came out in support of the agreement after meeting with Kerry in Qatar. In addition to Qatar, those countries are Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
Shortly before the joint ASEAN statement was released, Kerry met in Kuala Lumpur with Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida as Japan and others marked the 70th anniversary of the Aug, 6, 1945 nuclear blast in Hiroshima. Kerry said the occasion was a "very, very powerful reminder" of the impact of war that also demonstrated the importance of the Iran deal.

"It is impossible not to have thoughts about it," Kerry said, adding that he had watched the ceremony in Hiroshima's peace park marking the moment of the atomic blast in 1945.