Political revolt inside parliament as rights ramp up outside. Ramping up the military. Dont like the way theyre forcefully passing the bills using words like peace and cooperation i feel like theyre trying to deceive us. Japan and its politicians. Fruits of conflict. After two decades of war in somalia, hope, bananas. Good evening im antonio mora. This is al jazeera america. We begin tonight with the white houses Strong Defense of the nuclear deal with iran. In an hourlong News Conference today the president argued in favor of the historic agreement saying it meets the National Security interests of the u. S. And its allies. He also challenged critics to present a better alternative. The agreement is facing bipartisan resistance on capitol hill. Republicans contend it legitimizes Irans Nuclear power. Any kind of nuclear deal, to washington now and National Security correspondent Jamie Mcintire who has more of the president s defense of the nuclear deal. Jamie. Antonio, president obama clearly was relishing his role as the debater in chief even though a helicopter was standing by to whisk him away, he seemed reluctant to give up the podium until he had delivered a counter argument to pretty much every criticism leveled at this deal. Im going to look for i made some notes about any of the arguments. Like the law professor he used to be president obama offered a point by point defense of his historic iran agreement against members of congress who have vowed to kill the deal. I do expect the debate to be based on facts. And not speculation or misinformation. Reporter take this criticism. Any time anywhere, is not any time anywhere. The president says declared sites can be inspected 247. Only unknown suspect sites are subject to a review that could take more than three weeks. It may take 24 days to finally get access to the site. The nature of Nuclear Programs and facilities is such, this is not something you hide in a closet. This is not something you put on a dolly and kind of wheel off somewhere. Reporter and then theres concern about what is not in the deal. There is no addressing in this agreement that weve seen that addresses irans role as a chief sponsor of terror throughout the region. Reporter true says obama but the deal is designed to solve the much bigger problem making sure iran doesnt get the bomb. It will be a lot easier for us to check irans nefarious activities, to push back against the other areas where they operate contrary to our interests or our allies interests, if they dont have a bomb. What about the cash, the 150 billion or so iran gets from its unfrozeen revenue . This is the amount we can block. Those moneys were not going to stay frozen forever, not with other countries eager to buy iranian oil. Is the incremental additional money that theyve got to try to destabilize the region or send to other proxies is that more important than preventing iran from geneticking a Nuclear Weapon . No. Why not just tighten sanctions to get an even better deal ss the Senate Republican leader. We knew what was working sanctions. Imagine what we might have now if we spent the last two years ratcheting up the sanctions as opposed to this . President obama had an answer to that too but made it clear recalcitrant republicans are not his target audience. Im not betting on the Republican Party rallying behind this agreement. Its why obama dispatched his Vice President to huddle with House Democrats on capitol hill to shore up any whose support might be wobbling. Whats the alternative . One of the points the Vice President made is if theres no agreement, we can be we can count on the fact that the International Sanctions regime will unravel. Among the criticisms the president left unanswered, republican provisions to a provision granting sanctions relief to kasim solimani. I promise you i will address this again. I suspect this is not last weve heard of this debate. The president says the most compelling argument for this deal is whatever its shortcomings he says its far superior to any alternative anyone else has advanced, and he says if iran sheets, this agreement will help catch them, make it easier to deal with them and that those snapback sanctions will be right back in place. Antonio. Jamie one of the criticisms in negotiating this deal the United States forgot to talk about all the other issues the u. S. Has with iran including american hostages who are being held there. Well the president said that the United States bargaining strategy was very specific not to link any other issues. But just keep focused on the nuclear question. He also argued that had they made a pitch to release those americans, three of whom are being held, one whose whereabouts are unknown that would simply give the iranians more Bargaining Power to be able to use those in the negotiations. The president also said that does not mean the u. S. Isnt working very hard to secure the release of those americans and still doing that as well. Jamie mcintire in washington thanks. Former israeli Prime Minister ehud barak told al jazeera it was a bad deal. There was opening for a much tougher negotiation with the however softspeaking will being accompanied by a big stick in the background. That will convince the iranians somehow that they have to basically dismantle the installation and stop their nuclear military program. Basically we are in a totally new page in the history of the middle east. Starting from yesterday. Disregard its historic as well. Basically the world led by america, including russia china europe and so on, all agreed to recognize iran as a major legitimate regional power. The former israeli Prime Minister also said the deal does nothing to stop iran from continuing to sponsor terrorism. Joining us now from beirut is rami curry. Professor very good to have you with us. You were quoted in the New York Times as saying one legacy of this deal is it could demonstrate to the entire region that diplomacy works. The prevailing narrative in the u. S. Is that diplomacy has not worked and this is a far worse deal than the Obama Administration promised. I wouldnt say it is the prevailing narrative in the u. S. I would say its the prevailing narrative of the republicans in the congress. The prevailing narrative in the u. S. Is way off base from the reality and the actual facts of the situation. I think any objective reading of this agreement shows that the iranians and the americans both made courageous concessions and cheefd their bottomachieved their bottom line. Public opinion is for this agreement because the American People are sensible and they act rationally rather than ideologically. Polls in the u. S. Have seen the majority of the American People support this deal at least before it was reached. But some democrats have allied themselves with republicans in criticizing the deal today. You have also written it would be stupid to the point of criminality, if the deal did not lead to better relations between the United States and iran. Whether its good or not would not party much if it leads to better relations between iran and the u. S. Pfn do u. S. And iran. Do you feel that is likely. There is no doubt the majority of iranians under the age of 45 know the Islamic Revolution of khomeini know the revolution of their child hoods. Should not be played around with like the toy of a colonial empire. They got the negotiations started, they got the americans and the powers of the world to sell that iran can enrich uranium for peaceful purposes. They gave huge concessions about inspections and limitations on armments and things like that and came one a win win deal. I tip my hat to the American Government and the iranian government. Just finished negotiating a very sophisticated deal i think they would find that the iranians would reciprocate. One would argue if its a normal country on the list of state sponsored terrorism. Supporting assad in syria the houthis in yemen hezbollah where you are. Isnt that a valid concern . I dont think so. I think its an unfair assumption. First of all, every country in the world has the right to have relations with other people. The United States has spent the last 20 years fighting wars in the middle east, supporting all kinds of militant groups, toppling governments creating new militias like theyre doing in syria to fight against assad. The saudis have done it the egyptians have done it. This is a normal thing to do, you have relations with other people. Thank you for being here. Thank you for having me. Voted yes to the europe bailout but thousands showed their opposition to the deal clark outside parliament. They threw fire bombs and Police Responded with tear gas. Patricia sabga even though vote ended up being a landslide the debate got heated outside and inside. It was a very heated debate antonio. In fact when staples basically told parliament he does not support this agreement but the choice was either this agreement or a disorderly default or a temporary grexit. A very unpalatable choice. There were also mps who were very serious owned to this. Passions were running high inside parliament but earlier outside parliament passions boiled over. Molotov come tails hurled at the parliament more punishing than the voters rejected just a week and a half ago. European creditors demanded greece adopt tax pension and other reforms to move forward with negotiations on a bailout worth up to 95 billion. Before the vote, syriza mp effie caracosa told al jazeera what she svelte. This vote is not from our hearts to allow greece to remain standing we have to do this vote today. The greek pensioner says in his sign, im afraid of starvation. A lose lose proposition that has generated sympathy for tsipras and loathing for creditors who they feel blackmailed him. They wont do what he wants but if hes given a chance to stay in office free to do what he thinks is right he will change the country. A chance europes leaders have been so far unwilling to grant and which the greek people may run out of patience to give. And antonio, it is interesting to note that the former finance minister yanis varoufakis, said he would wear the creditors loathing with pride he did vote no tonight antonio. That is obig protest vote on his part. Will these measures be enough to save greece . Certainly the imf doesnt seem to think so. No, the imf doesnt think so. In fact in a leaked memo it basically said european leaders have to get real about how unsustainable greeces debt really is. It said that european leaders have to start considering some very serious measures such as a big deep haircut up front for giving a portion of greeces accident or perhaps other measures other measures such as pushing out the time horizon when greece has to start paying back greeces interest, all the way to 2053. Greece answer debt the imf feels is unsustain annal. But european leaders have been unwilling to discuss that. They basically told greece, told tsipras that these austerity measures had to be enacted into law first. By the way, this is not the agreement, this is the basis to move forward on talks of this agreement. Well have more analysis in about 15 minutes. Patricia sabga outside the Greek Parliament in theens, thanks. Capitalizing on the Iranian Nuclear deal, why russia could be a key beneficiary of that agreement. And life in ukraine how those who have stayed behind endure the constantly shelling. Opposition to the Iranian Nuclear deal remains intense in israel. Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu attacked the agreement today, in the knesset he said israel would not be a party to its terms. He says the country deserves the right to defend itself against its enemies. Before leaving london he offered a harsh assessment on iran. Hamed says it appears no agreement would be good enough for netanyahu. What kind of a deal would have been welcomed in tel aviv . The answer is that israel doesnt want any deal with iran. Israel wants a permanent state of standoff. I dont believe thats in the interest of the region or in our interest. Hamed says it hopes to reopen its embassy by the end of the year. It was closed in 2011. Meanwhile, secretary of state john kerry is expected to testify in Congress Next week about the iranian deal. Israels jackyisraels rosalyn jordan has more. Street demonstrations from tehran as u. S. And the other p5 plus one countries deal with the issue. The Iranian Foreign minister seem to indicate perhaps. It shows that in our globalized world diplomacy has a much better chance of achieving results than coercion and pressure. And i hope this will be a lesson for other situations as well. Reporter the building behind me is the old Iranian Embassy in washington, its been closed since 1980 and that of course is when the u. S. And iran broke off diplomatic relations. Under the geneva convention, the u. S. Is expected to maintain the building but dont expect it to be opened soon. Accused of sending aid to the houthis in yemen. But theres now talk that the u. S. Might be able to use the moment to help end syrias civil war. We need to see whether or not the iranians are willing to play ball. To correct this situation. To date, weve not done that. Weve placed our emphasis entirely on the nuclear issue. Weve set aside all of these other things. Now its time to pivot and to pivot very rapidly. Reporter and removing assad could deprive i. S. I. L. A mutuallymutual enemy of a recruiting tool. Could increase tensions between iran and its sunnidominated saudi arabia, u. S. s ally. It could be years before iran is instinctively considered a friend in the middle east rather than a foe. Rosalyn jordan, state department. Iran and u. S. , u. S. Russia have had a trading partnership. Only a handful of those sales came after the arms embargo came in 2007. 800 Million Contract to sell missiles to iran. Russia agreed to move forward with that sale. While selling arms to iran could benefit russias economy that economy could suffer in the oil markets. The u. S. Energy Information Administration estimates oil prices could fall as much as 15 a barrel once iran is allowed to freely export oil. Joins us tonight from washington d. C paul very good to have you with us. You recently wrote a report on what the deal means for russia, saying that its the key beneficiary of the deal and that the biggest benefit is that it assures the continuation of the lawkislamic republic. Riz is key to emerge because it will before benefit a newly empowered iran to exploit its oil and gas reserves to generate revenue. And will generate a windfall as you mentioned earlier 150 billion has been held in escrow. Russia is poised to benefit both economically and politically. Economically russias been working very hard even before the signing of this deal to position itself to make a large number of sales in the commercial space, as well as in the military space. In the commercial space its hoping to exploit iranians appetite for rebuilding the economy by transferring nuclear generate being equipment Construction Equipment telecommunications and Energy Development resources as well. Right, already made a couple of deals on nuclear playouts and geopolitically it will indirectly increase the influence of russia and the middle east. So that cant be good for the u. S. Because russia and u. S. Disagree about virtually everything in that region. That is not entirely clear. I do believe that iran constitutes a natural partner for russia given the current geopolitical circumstances. Given their interests are mostly aligned in the middle east, they both support bashar alassad, and significant hostility towards gulf states, i think a newly empowered iran able to exert greater influence in the middle east could be a support for russia. Does that put pressure on the u. S. To improve relations with iran . Absolutely. Ive said in my report that russia is poised to emerge as a key beneficiary unless the u. S. Is able to move beyond the Nuclear Accord thats been formed to transform its relationship with iran, to improve its trade relationship, to invest heavily to generate student exchanges, like used to happen frequently back in the 70s. And also to act as an honest broker to help mitigate some of the areas between iran and some of the middle eastern partners. As some have argued if this leads to a booming economy in iran and a growing middle class couldnt that put pressure on the iranian hard liners and not make iran such a great ally for russia . I agree with that. The trick will be though, for west to do its part by working very closely to try oshow iran that it can to show iran that it can really benefit from closer relations with the u. S. But thats going to be a hard lift because over the short term theres all these tension spots in the middle east that are going to drive the u. S. And iran more towards conflict. So it can take a good deal of statesmanship on both sides to make that happen. Quick final question for you. Any chance having john kerry and russian minister Sergey Lavrov sitting across the table . If john kerry and Sergey Lavrov were the ministers involved it would solve many problems. They have had a Good Relationship for quite some time now and it is a good faith measure to find had russia can still contribute positively in the relationship. Paul schwartz for the center for