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1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:02,670 Mr. Earnest: Good afternoon, everybody. 2 00:00:02,669 --> 00:00:03,699 We have a full house today. 3 00:00:03,703 --> 00:00:05,973 It's nice to see you all. 4 00:00:05,972 --> 00:00:06,742 The Press: How come? 5 00:00:06,740 --> 00:00:08,610 (laughter) 6 00:00:08,608 --> 00:00:09,278 Mr. Earnest: Well, it's always nice to see so many smiling 7 00:00:09,275 --> 00:00:10,545 faces. 8 00:00:10,543 --> 00:00:12,283 The Press: How come it's a full house? 9 00:00:12,278 --> 00:00:13,278 Mr. Earnest: Oh, I don't know. 10 00:00:13,279 --> 00:00:15,279 I was hoping you were going to tell me. 11 00:00:15,281 --> 00:00:17,281 Let me do a quick announcement before we get to your questions. 12 00:00:17,283 --> 00:00:19,283 This is something you've already heard a little bit on, 13 00:00:19,285 --> 00:00:20,225 but I just wanted to underscore the significance of 14 00:00:20,220 --> 00:00:21,550 this announcement. 15 00:00:21,554 --> 00:00:25,724 Last November, many of you were there when President Obama stood 16 00:00:25,725 --> 00:00:29,395 alongside President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People 17 00:00:29,396 --> 00:00:33,796 in Beijing and made a commitment to reduce our country's carbon 18 00:00:33,800 --> 00:00:39,810 emissions to 26 to 28 percent of 2005 levels by 2025. 19 00:00:39,806 --> 00:00:43,606 At the same event, China made a substantial commitment to peak 20 00:00:43,610 --> 00:00:45,980 and then reduce their carbon pollution, 21 00:00:45,979 --> 00:00:50,219 making a huge and unprecedented commitment to clean energy. 22 00:00:50,216 --> 00:00:52,256 Today, the United States submitted to the United Nations 23 00:00:52,252 --> 00:00:54,252 our plan for meeting this goal. 24 00:00:54,254 --> 00:00:56,694 It's evidence once again how President Obama and the United 25 00:00:56,689 --> 00:00:59,689 States is leading the world to confront the challenge of 26 00:00:59,692 --> 00:01:00,692 climate change. 27 00:01:00,693 --> 00:01:02,693 And in light of today's announcement, 28 00:01:02,695 --> 00:01:04,895 we're confident that other countries will now step up and 29 00:01:04,898 --> 00:01:06,438 follow our lead. 30 00:01:06,433 --> 00:01:08,433 The steps that the United States will take to meet our 31 00:01:08,435 --> 00:01:11,205 commitments includes the Clean Power Plan, 32 00:01:11,204 --> 00:01:13,704 higher efficiency standards on cars and trucks, 33 00:01:13,706 --> 00:01:16,746 improved energy-efficiency standards for buildings, 34 00:01:16,743 --> 00:01:20,013 broader efforts to reduce HFCs in methane emissions -- these 35 00:01:20,013 --> 00:01:23,153 are gases that have a disproportionate impact on 36 00:01:23,149 --> 00:01:24,619 climate change. 37 00:01:24,617 --> 00:01:26,987 And the good news is that these steps aren't just good for the 38 00:01:26,986 --> 00:01:29,626 environment, they also are good for our economy. 39 00:01:29,622 --> 00:01:31,622 We know that investments in clean energy, 40 00:01:31,624 --> 00:01:33,624 including clean energy manufacturing and research and 41 00:01:33,626 --> 00:01:35,626 development, have tremendous economic potential. 42 00:01:35,628 --> 00:01:39,098 But we can also look back over the last few years. 43 00:01:39,098 --> 00:01:42,168 Even as the United States has cut our carbon pollution by more 44 00:01:42,168 --> 00:01:46,268 than any other country over the last several years, we've also, 45 00:01:46,272 --> 00:01:50,112 over a similar time frame, bounced back from the worst 46 00:01:50,109 --> 00:01:52,679 economic downturn since the Great Depression and created 47 00:01:52,679 --> 00:01:56,449 more than 12 million jobs in just the last five years. 48 00:01:56,449 --> 00:01:58,719 So this is a significant announcement, 49 00:01:58,718 --> 00:02:01,258 and I would anticipate that over the course of this year this is 50 00:02:01,254 --> 00:02:03,294 an issue that we'll have the opportunity to continue 51 00:02:03,289 --> 00:02:04,459 to discuss. 52 00:02:04,457 --> 00:02:05,827 So, with that windup, Julie, do you want to get us 53 00:02:05,825 --> 00:02:06,725 started today? 54 00:02:06,726 --> 00:02:07,396 The Press: Thanks, Josh. 55 00:02:07,393 --> 00:02:08,733 I have a couple questions on Iran. 56 00:02:08,728 --> 00:02:12,128 Officials in Switzerland are starting to talk about the idea 57 00:02:12,131 --> 00:02:15,431 of extending the talks beyond the midnight deadline if there 58 00:02:15,435 --> 00:02:17,505 is enough sign of progress. 59 00:02:17,504 --> 00:02:20,644 So I wonder two things -- one, do you see enough signs of 60 00:02:20,640 --> 00:02:23,510 progress today to extend beyond midnight? 61 00:02:23,510 --> 00:02:25,710 And how flexible is the President willing to be on 62 00:02:25,712 --> 00:02:27,252 this deadline? 63 00:02:27,247 --> 00:02:30,047 Are we talking about going into another day, another week? 64 00:02:30,049 --> 00:02:32,289 Mr. Earnest: Well, Julie, I can tell you that the President has 65 00:02:32,285 --> 00:02:36,185 been updated already today on the latest status of the ongoing 66 00:02:36,189 --> 00:02:38,329 talks in Switzerland to prevent Iran from obtaining a 67 00:02:38,324 --> 00:02:40,294 nuclear weapon. 68 00:02:40,293 --> 00:02:42,593 I would not rule out the President possibly being in 69 00:02:42,595 --> 00:02:44,895 touch with members of the negotiating team later today. 70 00:02:44,898 --> 00:02:49,098 We'll do our best to keep you updated on that situation. 71 00:02:49,102 --> 00:02:51,102 The update that I've received is that our negotiators have 72 00:02:51,104 --> 00:02:56,944 determined, over the context of a mostly sleepless night last 73 00:02:56,943 --> 00:03:00,683 night and long negotiations over the course of the day in Europe 74 00:03:00,680 --> 00:03:05,790 today, that they're going to continue these conversations 75 00:03:05,785 --> 00:03:10,655 tomorrow as long as -- well, if necessary -- and as long the 76 00:03:10,657 --> 00:03:13,527 conversations continue to be productive. 77 00:03:13,526 --> 00:03:15,896 Now, the President has been very clear that we've been having 78 00:03:15,895 --> 00:03:18,195 these conversations for more than a year now. 79 00:03:18,197 --> 00:03:21,237 The international community, standing alongside the United 80 00:03:21,234 --> 00:03:24,374 States, is seeking very specific and very serious commitments 81 00:03:24,370 --> 00:03:27,010 from the Iranians to shut down every pathway they have to a 82 00:03:27,006 --> 00:03:31,346 nuclear weapon and to agree to intrusive inspections to verify 83 00:03:31,344 --> 00:03:33,514 their compliance with the agreement. 84 00:03:33,513 --> 00:03:38,453 And we've been very clear that if, after a year of negotiating, 85 00:03:38,451 --> 00:03:41,451 that Iran is not in a position to make those serious 86 00:03:41,454 --> 00:03:43,454 commitments that we're going to be prepared to consider 87 00:03:43,456 --> 00:03:45,056 other alternatives. 88 00:03:45,058 --> 00:03:47,898 But if necessary, if the conversations continue to be 89 00:03:47,894 --> 00:03:51,564 productive, it's possible that talks could continue 90 00:03:51,564 --> 00:03:52,564 into tomorrow. 91 00:03:52,565 --> 00:03:55,535 The Press: So that decision hasn't been made yet? 92 00:03:55,535 --> 00:03:58,335 Mr. Earnest: Right now, it's still March 31st. 93 00:03:58,338 --> 00:04:03,038 Our negotiators are engaged in serious negotiations that have 94 00:04:03,042 --> 00:04:06,082 been going on not just over the course of the last year, 95 00:04:06,079 --> 00:04:09,179 which is relevant here, but also over the last day they've been 96 00:04:09,182 --> 00:04:12,452 engaged in very serious negotiations. 97 00:04:12,452 --> 00:04:16,192 And if it's necessary -- and when I say if it's necessary I 98 00:04:16,189 --> 00:04:21,659 mean if it's midnight and a deal has not been reached but the 99 00:04:21,661 --> 00:04:24,761 conversations continue to be productive -- then they'd be 100 00:04:24,764 --> 00:04:26,764 prepared to continue the talks into tomorrow. 101 00:04:26,766 --> 00:04:29,866 The Press: And does that apply to then another day and another 102 00:04:29,869 --> 00:04:31,009 day after that? 103 00:04:31,004 --> 00:04:33,444 At what point do you reach your limit on even these 104 00:04:33,439 --> 00:04:37,209 short extensions? 105 00:04:37,210 --> 00:04:38,280 Mr. Earnest: Well, I think it's fair to say that we've reached 106 00:04:38,277 --> 00:04:39,917 our limit right now in as far as -- 107 00:04:39,912 --> 00:04:41,112 The Press: You haven't if you're willing to extend another day. 108 00:04:41,114 --> 00:04:43,414 Mr. Earnest: Well, in as far as the conversations have been 109 00:04:43,416 --> 00:04:44,916 going on for more than a year. 110 00:04:44,917 --> 00:04:47,257 We've established this deadline for trying to reach a political 111 00:04:47,253 --> 00:04:50,123 agreement whereby we would have a framework that would guide the 112 00:04:50,123 --> 00:04:52,723 technical negotiations that would have to continue 113 00:04:52,725 --> 00:04:54,065 into June. 114 00:04:54,060 --> 00:05:01,670 But at the same time, it also doesn't make sense if we are 115 00:05:01,668 --> 00:05:05,368 getting serious engagement from the other side to just abruptly 116 00:05:05,371 --> 00:05:12,811 end the talks based on this deadline, because the fact is, 117 00:05:12,812 --> 00:05:15,252 if we are making progress toward the finish line, 118 00:05:15,248 --> 00:05:17,018 then we should keep going. 119 00:05:17,016 --> 00:05:20,356 But ultimately, this is, like I said, 120 00:05:20,353 --> 00:05:22,953 something that we have been talking about for more than a 121 00:05:22,955 --> 00:05:26,855 year now, and it's time for Iran to make the serious commitments 122 00:05:26,859 --> 00:05:29,459 that they know the international community is expecting them to 123 00:05:29,462 --> 00:05:31,162 make to reach an agreement. 124 00:05:31,164 --> 00:05:36,004 And if they're not willing to make those serious commitments, 125 00:05:36,002 --> 00:05:38,602 then the United States will, alongside the international 126 00:05:38,604 --> 00:05:41,974 community, be in a position of having to consider some 127 00:05:41,974 --> 00:05:43,414 other alternatives. 128 00:05:43,409 --> 00:05:45,079 The Press: I want to move on to the Indiana religious 129 00:05:45,078 --> 00:05:46,208 freedom law. 130 00:05:46,212 --> 00:05:48,312 Governor Pence said earlier this morning that he wants to amend 131 00:05:48,314 --> 00:05:52,154 that legislation to clarify that it does not allow discrimination 132 00:05:52,151 --> 00:05:54,091 against gays and lesbians. 133 00:05:54,087 --> 00:05:55,957 Does the White House feel that that is the right approach, 134 00:05:55,955 --> 00:05:57,155 to amend it? 135 00:05:57,156 --> 00:05:59,256 Or do you support a full repeal of it? 136 00:05:59,258 --> 00:06:02,998 Mr. Earnest: Well, ultimately, putting this state law in place 137 00:06:02,995 --> 00:06:04,995 will require some decisions that are made by the state 138 00:06:04,997 --> 00:06:06,997 legislature of Indiana and then ultimately by the 139 00:06:06,999 --> 00:06:08,739 governor of Indiana. 140 00:06:08,735 --> 00:06:15,575 The kind of public outcry that we've seen in response to the 141 00:06:15,575 --> 00:06:22,285 signing of the law I think is indicative of how this piece of 142 00:06:22,281 --> 00:06:25,921 legislation flies in the face of the kinds of values that people 143 00:06:25,918 --> 00:06:29,258 all across the country strongly support. 144 00:06:32,191 --> 00:06:35,461 And we've seen the governor and other Indiana officials in 145 00:06:35,461 --> 00:06:42,171 damage-control mode here because this law has provoked an outcry 146 00:06:42,168 --> 00:06:45,868 from business leaders across the state of Indiana. 147 00:06:45,872 --> 00:06:48,372 We've seen criticism from even religious groups inside the 148 00:06:48,374 --> 00:06:50,074 state of Indiana. 149 00:06:50,076 --> 00:06:52,946 We've seen concerns raised by the Republican mayor of 150 00:06:52,945 --> 00:06:57,515 Indianapolis about the impact that this law would have on the 151 00:06:57,517 --> 00:06:59,757 economy of the state. 152 00:06:59,752 --> 00:07:02,152 And understandably, we see business leaders saying that 153 00:07:02,155 --> 00:07:06,625 they are reluctant to do business in a state where their 154 00:07:06,626 --> 00:07:10,396 customers or even their employees could be subjected to 155 00:07:10,396 --> 00:07:12,966 greater discrimination just because of who they love. 156 00:07:12,965 --> 00:07:14,005 That's not fair. 157 00:07:14,000 --> 00:07:17,170 It's not consistent with our values as a country that we 158 00:07:17,170 --> 00:07:18,300 hold dear. 159 00:07:18,304 --> 00:07:21,644 And I think that's what has provoked the strong outcry, 160 00:07:21,641 --> 00:07:25,441 and I think it's what has provoked the previously defiant 161 00:07:25,444 --> 00:07:28,644 governor to consider a position of changing the law. 162 00:07:28,648 --> 00:07:30,818 The Press: There are some legal scholars and supporters of the 163 00:07:30,817 --> 00:07:33,987 law that say it's actually rooted in a 1993 federal law 164 00:07:33,986 --> 00:07:35,756 that's been upheld by the courts. 165 00:07:35,755 --> 00:07:38,595 Does the President feel that there is a need to amend 166 00:07:38,591 --> 00:07:40,231 that law? 167 00:07:40,226 --> 00:07:41,826 Mr. Earnest: Well, I know that Governor Pence has tried to 168 00:07:41,828 --> 00:07:44,498 falsely suggest that the law that was signed in Indiana is 169 00:07:44,497 --> 00:07:46,767 the same as the law that was passed at the federal level 170 00:07:46,766 --> 00:07:48,536 in 1993. 171 00:07:48,534 --> 00:07:51,204 That is not true. 172 00:07:51,204 --> 00:07:56,714 And the reason that that's not true is that the 1993 law was an 173 00:07:56,709 --> 00:08:00,209 effort to try to protect the religious liberty of religious 174 00:08:00,213 --> 00:08:04,183 minorities based on actions that could be taken by the 175 00:08:04,183 --> 00:08:06,383 federal government. 176 00:08:06,385 --> 00:08:08,385 The Indiana law is much broader. 177 00:08:08,387 --> 00:08:10,387 It doesn't just apply to individuals or 178 00:08:10,389 --> 00:08:11,389 religious minorities. 179 00:08:11,390 --> 00:08:13,660 It applies to -- and I'm quoting here -- "a partnership, 180 00:08:13,659 --> 00:08:17,359 a limited liability company, a corporation, a company, a firm, 181 00:08:17,363 --> 00:08:20,533 a society, a joint stock company, 182 00:08:20,533 --> 00:08:23,533 or an unincorporated association." 183 00:08:23,536 --> 00:08:27,406 So this obviously is a significant expansion of the law 184 00:08:27,406 --> 00:08:31,006 in terms of the way that it would apply. 185 00:08:31,010 --> 00:08:33,350 It leaves open the question, what sort of religious views a 186 00:08:33,346 --> 00:08:36,546 joint stock company may hold, but that may be something for 187 00:08:36,549 --> 00:08:38,049 lawyers to ponder. 188 00:08:38,050 --> 00:08:41,890 At the same time, it's also worth noting that the law in 189 00:08:41,888 --> 00:08:44,828 Indiana doesn't just apply to interactions with the 190 00:08:44,824 --> 00:08:49,664 government; it also applies to private transactions, as well, 191 00:08:52,031 --> 00:08:54,771 which means that this is a much more open-ended piece of 192 00:08:54,767 --> 00:08:58,107 legislation that could reasonably be used to try to 193 00:08:58,104 --> 00:09:00,374 justify discriminating against somebody because of who 194 00:09:00,373 --> 00:09:01,503 they love. 195 00:09:01,507 --> 00:09:05,447 And again, that is why we've seen such a bipartisan and even 196 00:09:05,444 --> 00:09:08,944 non-political outcry against this law. 197 00:09:08,948 --> 00:09:13,788 And again, I think that is also what has prompted Indiana 198 00:09:13,786 --> 00:09:18,596 officials to reconsider the wisdom of this approach. 199 00:09:18,591 --> 00:09:19,591 Roberta. 200 00:09:19,592 --> 00:09:22,332 The Press: I want to ask about the elections in Nigeria. 201 00:09:22,328 --> 00:09:25,628 What is the White House's reaction to the election of the 202 00:09:25,631 --> 00:09:28,231 new president, President Buhari? 203 00:09:28,234 --> 00:09:30,834 And what's the White House assessment of what his new 204 00:09:30,836 --> 00:09:33,376 leadership will mean for the fight against Boko Haram? 205 00:09:33,372 --> 00:09:36,042 Mr. Earnest: Well, at this point it's too soon to speculate on 206 00:09:36,042 --> 00:09:38,212 the likely outcome of the elections, 207 00:09:38,210 --> 00:09:41,380 but we do congratulate the people of Nigeria who exercised 208 00:09:41,380 --> 00:09:44,280 their civic duty by going to the polls. 209 00:09:44,283 --> 00:09:48,253 We would like to especially commend the patience that voters 210 00:09:48,254 --> 00:09:50,724 demonstrated and their commitment to participate in the 211 00:09:50,723 --> 00:09:52,893 democratic process. 212 00:09:52,892 --> 00:09:55,862 We also have been heartened by the consensus on the part of 213 00:09:55,861 --> 00:09:58,761 independent international observers that the elections 214 00:09:58,764 --> 00:10:01,464 were largely free, fair, and transparent, 215 00:10:01,467 --> 00:10:04,307 with only isolated disruptions due to violence and 216 00:10:04,303 --> 00:10:05,843 technical challenges. 217 00:10:05,838 --> 00:10:07,878 The world is obviously paying very close attention to what 218 00:10:07,873 --> 00:10:09,113 happens next. 219 00:10:09,108 --> 00:10:11,508 And we here in the United States continue to encourage all 220 00:10:11,510 --> 00:10:15,010 candidates to abide by the Abuja Accord signed in January and the 221 00:10:15,014 --> 00:10:17,814 additional peace pledge signed last week to respect the 222 00:10:17,817 --> 00:10:18,087 official results and to encourage their followers to do 223 00:10:18,084 --> 00:10:20,984 the same. 224 00:10:20,987 --> 00:10:23,857 This is, of course, entirely consistent with the message that 225 00:10:23,856 --> 00:10:28,826 the President delivered to the Nigerian people in the Internet 226 00:10:28,828 --> 00:10:30,828 video that we released last week. 227 00:10:30,830 --> 00:10:35,430 The Press: So what has to happen for the White House to 228 00:10:35,434 --> 00:10:36,834 acknowledge the results of the election? 229 00:10:36,836 --> 00:10:38,006 Maybe that's a dumb question. 230 00:10:38,004 --> 00:10:40,204 Mr. Earnest: Well, I think what we would want to see next is an 231 00:10:40,206 --> 00:10:44,176 announcement from election officials inside Nigeria about 232 00:10:44,176 --> 00:10:47,146 the results before we would weigh in here. 233 00:10:47,146 --> 00:10:51,386 The Press: Lastly, how does the White House view the Arab 234 00:10:51,384 --> 00:10:53,454 military force that was announced on the weekend? 235 00:10:53,452 --> 00:10:55,852 Is this a good thing for U.S. 236 00:10:55,855 --> 00:10:57,155 national security interests? 237 00:10:57,156 --> 00:11:00,756 Mr. Earnest: Well, what we saw from these Arab nations that 238 00:11:00,760 --> 00:11:05,600 were meeting in Egypt over the weekend was essentially a 239 00:11:05,598 --> 00:11:12,568 commitment to put together a coalition of armed forces that 240 00:11:12,571 --> 00:11:15,971 essentially they could draw upon to react to security challenges 241 00:11:15,975 --> 00:11:17,875 in that region of the world. 242 00:11:17,877 --> 00:11:20,247 There are a lot of details that were left unstated, 243 00:11:20,246 --> 00:11:23,016 or at least unagreed to. 244 00:11:23,015 --> 00:11:28,655 And so we would obviously depend a lot on what sort of -- what 245 00:11:28,654 --> 00:11:30,654 the command structure looks like, 246 00:11:30,656 --> 00:11:33,626 how decisions would be made about deploying the force. 247 00:11:33,626 --> 00:11:37,226 Obviously, the United States has strong relationships and in some 248 00:11:37,229 --> 00:11:39,229 cases even strong military-to-military 249 00:11:39,231 --> 00:11:42,031 relationships with many of the countries that have entered into 250 00:11:42,034 --> 00:11:45,434 this broad agreement. 251 00:11:45,438 --> 00:11:49,708 So we're obviously going to watch closely what additional 252 00:11:49,708 --> 00:11:53,208 steps the countries take to put this together. 253 00:11:53,212 --> 00:11:56,782 It's obviously something that we'll watch closely and have 254 00:11:56,782 --> 00:11:59,382 conversations about. 255 00:11:59,385 --> 00:12:01,355 The other thing that I would point out is that many of these 256 00:12:01,353 --> 00:12:03,893 countries are countries that have contributed to the ongoing 257 00:12:03,889 --> 00:12:07,759 military effort inside of Yemen that Saudi Arabia initiated in 258 00:12:07,760 --> 00:12:11,860 response to security concerns along their border with Yemen. 259 00:12:11,864 --> 00:12:15,264 The United States is providing some important intelligence and 260 00:12:15,267 --> 00:12:18,607 logistical support to that ongoing military operation. 261 00:12:18,604 --> 00:12:21,144 This is indicative of the kind of strong military-to-military 262 00:12:21,140 --> 00:12:25,340 relationship that we have with Saudi Arabia. 263 00:12:25,344 --> 00:12:27,414 And so we're going to continue to watch the decisions that are 264 00:12:27,413 --> 00:12:34,783 being made by the countries that have sort of agreed to this in 265 00:12:34,787 --> 00:12:38,887 principle, but it's hard for me to say at this point -- render a 266 00:12:38,891 --> 00:12:41,031 specific judgment on it at this point since there are still so 267 00:12:41,026 --> 00:12:43,826 many details that have not been locked down. 268 00:12:43,829 --> 00:12:45,429 The Press: And just to clarify briefly, 269 00:12:45,431 --> 00:12:48,001 when you said conversations -- the conversations -- is the 270 00:12:48,000 --> 00:12:50,470 United States government having conversations with the parties 271 00:12:50,469 --> 00:12:54,069 about some of those details that you said were left unsaid? 272 00:12:54,073 --> 00:12:55,873 Mr. Earnest: Well, I certainly wouldn't rule that out. 273 00:12:55,875 --> 00:13:00,145 These are countries that the United States often -- well, 274 00:13:00,146 --> 00:13:02,146 I guess I would say it this way. 275 00:13:02,148 --> 00:13:04,148 Given all of the events that are taking place in that region of 276 00:13:04,150 --> 00:13:06,150 the world, and given the close relationship that we have with 277 00:13:06,152 --> 00:13:08,152 so many of the countries that have been involved in those 278 00:13:08,154 --> 00:13:13,024 negotiations, it shouldn't be a surprise that there 279 00:13:13,025 --> 00:13:14,025 have been U.S. 280 00:13:14,026 --> 00:13:15,766 officials, up to and including the President, 281 00:13:15,761 --> 00:13:18,231 that have been in touch with them in recent days. 282 00:13:18,230 --> 00:13:19,530 Mr. Viqueira. 283 00:13:19,532 --> 00:13:20,662 The Press: Thank you, Josh. 284 00:13:20,666 --> 00:13:23,836 The deadline tonight -- I mean, isn't it, to begin with, 285 00:13:23,836 --> 00:13:25,176 an arbitrary deadline? 286 00:13:25,171 --> 00:13:28,541 The agreement, the framework expires at the end of June. 287 00:13:28,541 --> 00:13:32,281 You're allowing for the fact they could be extended, 288 00:13:32,278 --> 00:13:35,248 which I'm sure means it's going to be extended at least 289 00:13:35,247 --> 00:13:36,787 into tomorrow. 290 00:13:36,782 --> 00:13:39,622 Isn't the de facto deadline two weeks from now when Congress 291 00:13:39,618 --> 00:13:40,818 gets back? 292 00:13:40,819 --> 00:13:42,059 Mr. Earnest: I wouldn't characterize it that way. 293 00:13:42,054 --> 00:13:44,994 I think I would concede a little bit on the front end that the 294 00:13:44,990 --> 00:13:47,530 date is at least a little arbitrary. 295 00:13:47,526 --> 00:13:50,766 And the reason for that is that these negotiations have been 296 00:13:50,763 --> 00:13:54,963 going on for more than a year and it's appropriate at some 297 00:13:54,967 --> 00:13:57,007 point for everybody to say, look, 298 00:13:57,002 --> 00:13:59,002 we're either going to reach an agreement or we're going to have 299 00:13:59,004 --> 00:14:00,204 to try something else. 300 00:14:00,206 --> 00:14:02,346 Because we don't want to be in a position where we're just sort 301 00:14:02,341 --> 00:14:05,741 of mindlessly talking without actually advancing toward 302 00:14:05,744 --> 00:14:06,944 an agreement. 303 00:14:06,946 --> 00:14:10,686 And that is why it's appropriate in this case to put in what some 304 00:14:10,683 --> 00:14:14,223 might observe would be -- could describe as an 305 00:14:14,220 --> 00:14:15,690 arbitrary deadline. 306 00:14:15,688 --> 00:14:17,458 But it's a serious one nonetheless. 307 00:14:17,456 --> 00:14:20,326 And based on the fact that we have been in these conversations 308 00:14:20,326 --> 00:14:24,196 for more than a year, it's very clear to the Iranians what sort 309 00:14:24,196 --> 00:14:28,236 of commitments the international community is seeking from them. 310 00:14:28,234 --> 00:14:30,434 And that's why we believe that by the end of March, 311 00:14:30,436 --> 00:14:36,046 we should be able to reach at least the broad outlines of a 312 00:14:36,041 --> 00:14:40,011 political agreement that would establish a framework for the 313 00:14:40,012 --> 00:14:41,552 technical talks that would continue. 314 00:14:41,547 --> 00:14:43,487 The Press: So you don't envision a scenario where negotiators go 315 00:14:43,482 --> 00:14:45,452 away for a couple of days and then come back? 316 00:14:45,451 --> 00:14:47,751 Mr. Earnest: Well, I don't want to -- at this point, 317 00:14:47,753 --> 00:14:51,953 our negotiators are still having constructive conversations and 318 00:14:51,957 --> 00:14:53,697 we haven't reached the deadline yet. 319 00:14:53,692 --> 00:14:58,562 What my colleagues in Europe have indicated is that if the 320 00:14:58,564 --> 00:15:01,604 conversations continue to be productive but yet aren't 321 00:15:01,600 --> 00:15:04,570 finalized by the end of the day today that they would leave open 322 00:15:04,570 --> 00:15:06,910 the possibility of continuing those negotiations. 323 00:15:06,905 --> 00:15:10,545 So I wouldn't want to speculate about events beyond that. 324 00:15:10,542 --> 00:15:12,412 The Press: I see this as sort of a big-picture question over 325 00:15:12,411 --> 00:15:15,711 the talks. 326 00:15:15,714 --> 00:15:17,454 There were reports today that an Iranian military aircraft had an 327 00:15:17,449 --> 00:15:19,249 encounter with an American helicopter over the 328 00:15:19,251 --> 00:15:20,021 Persian Gulf. 329 00:15:20,019 --> 00:15:22,189 And this sort of brings up the question. 330 00:15:22,187 --> 00:15:24,357 When you look at the tangled alliances that the United States 331 00:15:24,356 --> 00:15:26,456 is involved in now in the region -- the U.S. 332 00:15:26,458 --> 00:15:30,928 and Iran are fighting against ISIL, and the U.S. 333 00:15:30,929 --> 00:15:33,769 and Saudi Arabia are against Iran, the U.S. 334 00:15:33,766 --> 00:15:37,066 and Saudi Arabia are against Assad, Iran is on Assad side, 335 00:15:37,069 --> 00:15:40,309 Saudis fighting the Houthis, the Houthis are against al Qaeda on 336 00:15:40,306 --> 00:15:44,076 the Arabian Peninsula, our enemy -- does all this get a little 337 00:15:44,076 --> 00:15:47,776 bit confusing to the American public and make any perspective 338 00:15:47,780 --> 00:15:50,580 or potential agreement with Iran a tougher sell? 339 00:15:50,582 --> 00:15:57,752 Mr. Earnest: Well, Mike, I think it's first fair to point out 340 00:15:57,756 --> 00:16:01,896 that the security and political situation in the Middle East has 341 00:16:01,894 --> 00:16:06,334 been complicated and even confusing for centuries. 342 00:16:06,332 --> 00:16:10,572 And these kinds of shifting alliances that you are observing 343 00:16:10,569 --> 00:16:13,269 are not unique to the Middle East and certainly not 344 00:16:13,272 --> 00:16:16,172 unprecedented in the Middle East. 345 00:16:16,175 --> 00:16:22,915 What the President's approach has prioritized is the safety 346 00:16:22,915 --> 00:16:24,885 and well-being of the American people, 347 00:16:24,883 --> 00:16:29,253 and trying to act both strategically and 348 00:16:29,254 --> 00:16:32,494 opportunistically to advance our interests in this very 349 00:16:32,491 --> 00:16:34,931 complicated region. 350 00:16:34,927 --> 00:16:40,897 And the way that the President has chosen to do this is to 351 00:16:43,268 --> 00:16:45,138 build on the kinds of relationships that already exist 352 00:16:45,137 --> 00:16:47,107 in the Middle East. 353 00:16:47,106 --> 00:16:53,416 And the best evidence I can point to on this is the success 354 00:16:53,412 --> 00:16:57,912 that this President had in building a coalition of more 60 355 00:16:57,916 --> 00:17:03,256 nations to confront ISIL, that the United States is one of the 356 00:17:03,255 --> 00:17:05,625 few countries in the world that could step up and build a 357 00:17:05,624 --> 00:17:06,924 coalition like this. 358 00:17:06,925 --> 00:17:09,765 All of the countries who are part of that coalition have an 359 00:17:09,762 --> 00:17:12,602 interest in degrading and ultimately destroying ISIL; 360 00:17:12,598 --> 00:17:14,598 that it's in the individual interests of all of those 361 00:17:14,600 --> 00:17:17,670 countries, but it requires leadership from someone to step 362 00:17:17,669 --> 00:17:21,539 up and say this is all in our collective interest, 363 00:17:21,540 --> 00:17:23,940 let's act together to confront it. 364 00:17:23,942 --> 00:17:26,782 That's the kind of leadership that this President has showed. 365 00:17:26,779 --> 00:17:30,679 And we have seen evidence of the success of that approach; 366 00:17:30,682 --> 00:17:35,592 that we have seen inside Iraq that up to 25 percent of the 367 00:17:35,587 --> 00:17:40,027 ground that had previously been taken over by ISIL is now an 368 00:17:40,025 --> 00:17:42,765 area where ISIL can no longer move freely. 369 00:17:42,761 --> 00:17:47,231 So that's one piece of evidence to indicate that by building a 370 00:17:47,232 --> 00:17:50,832 broad international coalition the President can ensure that 371 00:17:50,836 --> 00:17:52,806 the interests of the United States and the interests of the 372 00:17:52,805 --> 00:17:54,905 other members of our coalition are advanced. 373 00:17:54,907 --> 00:17:58,547 The Press: And finally, Saudi Arabia is obviously very much -- 374 00:17:58,544 --> 00:18:00,584 suspicious, would be a generous word to describe the talks with 375 00:18:00,579 --> 00:18:02,849 Iran -- over the talks with Iran and want you to get tougher 376 00:18:02,848 --> 00:18:04,248 with Iran. 377 00:18:04,249 --> 00:18:06,989 Does reaching a deal with Iran strengthen Iran economically in 378 00:18:06,985 --> 00:18:12,995 whatever ways that will ultimately pose more of a threat 379 00:18:12,991 --> 00:18:14,761 to Saudi Arabia? 380 00:18:14,760 --> 00:18:17,400 Mr. Earnest: Well, let me say a couple things about that. 381 00:18:17,396 --> 00:18:22,636 The first is, it's fair to say, to use your word "suspicious, 382 00:18:22,634 --> 00:18:25,734 " that Saudi Arabia has been suspicious of Iran long before 383 00:18:25,737 --> 00:18:31,647 any sort of conversations began between Iran and the broader 384 00:18:31,643 --> 00:18:34,043 international community to try to prevent them from obtaining a 385 00:18:34,046 --> 00:18:35,116 nuclear weapon. 386 00:18:35,113 --> 00:18:38,083 So this is, again, not a new phenomenon. 387 00:18:38,083 --> 00:18:40,383 The second thing is the United States and our international 388 00:18:40,385 --> 00:18:43,555 partners are engaged in this effort because we believe that 389 00:18:43,555 --> 00:18:46,295 diplomacy is the best way to prevent Iran from obtaining a 390 00:18:46,291 --> 00:18:49,061 nuclear weapon. 391 00:18:49,061 --> 00:18:51,261 To get them to make specific voluntary commitments that will 392 00:18:51,263 --> 00:18:57,003 shut off every path to a nuclear weapon and get them to agree to 393 00:18:57,002 --> 00:19:00,342 a set of intrusive inspections that will verify their 394 00:19:00,339 --> 00:19:02,939 compliance with the agreement, that's in the best interests of 395 00:19:02,941 --> 00:19:04,211 the United States. 396 00:19:04,209 --> 00:19:06,309 It's in the best interests of our closest ally in the region 397 00:19:06,311 --> 00:19:07,551 in Israel. 398 00:19:07,546 --> 00:19:09,986 We also happen to believe that it's in the best interest of our 399 00:19:09,982 --> 00:19:12,522 partners in the region, as well, including Saudi Arabia. 400 00:19:12,518 --> 00:19:17,058 The United States, as we're doing right now in Yemen, 401 00:19:17,055 --> 00:19:21,625 has taken steps to support Saudi Arabia's national security and 402 00:19:21,627 --> 00:19:23,767 to advance their interests in the region. 403 00:19:23,762 --> 00:19:25,802 We do that in a way that is consistent with U.S. 404 00:19:25,797 --> 00:19:27,337 interests, of course. 405 00:19:27,332 --> 00:19:31,072 And we believe this is another way that we can do that. 406 00:19:31,069 --> 00:19:34,509 Preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon is in the best 407 00:19:34,506 --> 00:19:36,576 interests of Saudi Arabia. 408 00:19:36,575 --> 00:19:41,385 And we say that because a nuclear-armed Iran is only more 409 00:19:41,380 --> 00:19:42,610 destabilizing in the region. 410 00:19:42,614 --> 00:19:45,884 It only makes more dangerous the kind of support that they could 411 00:19:45,884 --> 00:19:48,254 be offering to terrorist organizations. 412 00:19:48,253 --> 00:19:54,063 It only makes it easier and more dangerous for Iran to menace 413 00:19:54,059 --> 00:19:56,199 those countries that the United States has strong relationships 414 00:19:56,194 --> 00:19:59,234 with, including our ally Israel and also potentially 415 00:19:59,231 --> 00:20:00,361 Saudi Arabia. 416 00:20:00,365 --> 00:20:03,405 So we believe that preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear 417 00:20:03,402 --> 00:20:06,902 weapon through diplomacy is the best way and most likely way for 418 00:20:06,905 --> 00:20:08,805 us to get a good outcome. 419 00:20:08,807 --> 00:20:11,607 And by good outcome, I mean an outcome that is consistent with 420 00:20:11,610 --> 00:20:14,010 the national security interests of the United States and 421 00:20:14,012 --> 00:20:16,012 consistent with the national security interests of other 422 00:20:16,014 --> 00:20:17,754 countries with whom we have a strong relationship in that 423 00:20:17,749 --> 00:20:18,819 region of the world. 424 00:20:18,817 --> 00:20:19,717 The Press: Thank you. 425 00:20:19,718 --> 00:20:23,058 Mr. Earnest: Alexis. 426 00:20:23,055 --> 00:20:25,825 The Press: Josh, just to follow up, last week, as you know, 427 00:20:25,824 --> 00:20:28,324 President Rouhani spoke to Putin and he spoke to Prime 428 00:20:28,327 --> 00:20:29,827 Minister Cameron. 429 00:20:29,828 --> 00:20:31,968 And you were just talking about the President might talk to 430 00:20:31,964 --> 00:20:33,434 members of the negotiating team. 431 00:20:33,432 --> 00:20:36,272 Are there any circumstances under which President Obama 432 00:20:36,268 --> 00:20:39,108 would speak directly to President Rouhani or send him a 433 00:20:39,104 --> 00:20:41,674 written message? 434 00:20:41,673 --> 00:20:43,873 Mr. Earnest: Well, Alexis, I can tell you that the President has 435 00:20:43,875 --> 00:20:47,875 not recently had a phone call with President Rouhani. 436 00:20:47,879 --> 00:20:50,719 But at this point, I don't have anything else to tell you about 437 00:20:50,716 --> 00:20:51,886 the President's day. 438 00:20:51,883 --> 00:20:55,683 There's no call like that that's scheduled at this point. 439 00:20:55,687 --> 00:20:57,687 The Press: And to follow up on the religious 440 00:20:57,689 --> 00:21:00,529 freedom-Indiana situation. 441 00:21:00,525 --> 00:21:02,095 You were talking about the outcry being bipartisan and not 442 00:21:02,094 --> 00:21:03,324 even political. 443 00:21:03,328 --> 00:21:06,068 But as you know, there are members of Congress who are 444 00:21:06,064 --> 00:21:09,064 thinking about running for President, 445 00:21:09,067 --> 00:21:11,407 and former leaders -- a former governor, 446 00:21:11,403 --> 00:21:14,103 for instance -- who immediately embraced it. 447 00:21:14,106 --> 00:21:16,876 Do you think that they were acting in a political way, 448 00:21:16,875 --> 00:21:20,945 or didn't understand what the law's implications might be? 449 00:21:20,946 --> 00:21:22,146 Mr. Earnest: You'd have to ask them. 450 00:21:22,147 --> 00:21:24,917 I'm not sure what's motivating their decision to speak out. 451 00:21:24,916 --> 00:21:26,816 The Press: But when you were saying you don't think it was 452 00:21:26,818 --> 00:21:29,388 political, the outcry, you meant the public as opposed 453 00:21:29,388 --> 00:21:31,128 to official? 454 00:21:31,123 --> 00:21:33,293 Mr. Earnest: I meant the criticism of the law that had 455 00:21:33,291 --> 00:21:36,431 been signed by the governor of Indiana. 456 00:21:36,428 --> 00:21:37,828 Michelle. 457 00:21:37,829 --> 00:21:40,099 The Press: Okay, so, so far we've heard that the deadline is 458 00:21:40,098 --> 00:21:42,468 firm -- we've heard that said this week -- but now the 459 00:21:42,467 --> 00:21:44,207 deadline, it might move. 460 00:21:44,202 --> 00:21:46,402 And we've heard that this has been going on for a year, 461 00:21:46,405 --> 00:21:49,775 and by now, everybody should be ready and where they're going to 462 00:21:49,775 --> 00:21:54,245 be, but it would be wrong to end it if there's progress. 463 00:21:54,246 --> 00:21:57,046 So I guess you're left with, sort of, which is it? 464 00:21:57,049 --> 00:21:59,189 I mean, since it's been going on for a year, 465 00:21:59,184 --> 00:22:01,324 if Iran is serious and, as you say, 466 00:22:01,319 --> 00:22:04,119 the commitments that they need to make are clear, 467 00:22:04,122 --> 00:22:06,792 if they are serious, wouldn't they be there right now? 468 00:22:06,792 --> 00:22:08,992 Mr. Earnest: I don't mean to leave you with the impression 469 00:22:08,994 --> 00:22:12,494 that just because these negotiations have been going on 470 00:22:12,497 --> 00:22:15,967 for a long time and that we've been very clear about what sort 471 00:22:15,967 --> 00:22:17,967 of commitments we're seeking from Iran, 472 00:22:17,969 --> 00:22:20,209 that these kinds of conversations are easy. 473 00:22:20,205 --> 00:22:22,545 They're not. 474 00:22:22,541 --> 00:22:23,711 We're talking about a very complex issue and we're talking 475 00:22:23,709 --> 00:22:27,249 about an issue that has significant consequences for 476 00:22:27,245 --> 00:22:28,585 the world. 477 00:22:28,580 --> 00:22:32,180 So I think it makes sense that they are being very serious, 478 00:22:32,184 --> 00:22:34,254 and we certainly have been pleased to see that Iran has 479 00:22:34,252 --> 00:22:37,352 engaged in these conversations over the course of the last year 480 00:22:37,355 --> 00:22:39,595 with a seriousness of purpose. 481 00:22:39,591 --> 00:22:43,331 And in recent days, the talks have been productive. 482 00:22:43,328 --> 00:22:47,228 And if they continue to be productive, 483 00:22:47,232 --> 00:22:49,372 then we would be in a position where, 484 00:22:49,367 --> 00:22:52,507 if an agreement has not been reached by the end of the day 485 00:22:52,504 --> 00:22:55,804 over in Europe, that those serious conversations could 486 00:22:55,807 --> 00:22:58,777 extend into tomorrow. 487 00:22:58,777 --> 00:22:59,947 The Press: So are the sticking points the same -- the R&D, 488 00:22:59,945 --> 00:23:03,485 the sanctions, what to do about the stockpile? 489 00:23:03,482 --> 00:23:06,482 Would you say that there's been progress made on any of those 490 00:23:06,485 --> 00:23:07,585 three areas? 491 00:23:07,586 --> 00:23:11,126 Or do they remain sort of the stalemate? 492 00:23:11,123 --> 00:23:13,123 Mr. Earnest: Well, Michelle, the other thing that's been true 493 00:23:13,125 --> 00:23:15,865 over the last year is that we have declined to get into the 494 00:23:15,861 --> 00:23:18,131 play-by-play, if you will, of the negotiations. 495 00:23:18,130 --> 00:23:22,030 And principally, that's because we've been guided by this notion 496 00:23:22,033 --> 00:23:24,933 that nothing is agreed to until every element of the agreement 497 00:23:24,936 --> 00:23:26,276 has been agreed to. 498 00:23:26,271 --> 00:23:29,541 So at this point, I would decline to offer you a detailed 499 00:23:29,541 --> 00:23:32,781 assessment about where the sticking points are other than 500 00:23:32,778 --> 00:23:34,448 to tell you that some remain. 501 00:23:34,446 --> 00:23:38,216 And as long as we are making serious progress toward 502 00:23:38,216 --> 00:23:40,816 resolving those sticking points, then it's possible that those 503 00:23:40,819 --> 00:23:44,319 negotiations could continue until tomorrow. 504 00:23:44,322 --> 00:23:49,462 But the President is very serious about the fact that 505 00:23:49,461 --> 00:23:51,961 we've been talking about this over the course of a year, 506 00:23:51,963 --> 00:23:56,773 and it is time for Iran to make some serious decisions about 507 00:23:56,768 --> 00:23:58,768 whether or not they're going to make the kinds of commitments 508 00:23:58,770 --> 00:24:01,010 that the international community expects them to make. 509 00:24:01,006 --> 00:24:02,776 The Press: Are there any indications that they are not 510 00:24:02,774 --> 00:24:04,014 100 percent serious? 511 00:24:04,009 --> 00:24:06,349 Just the fact that it's gotten to this point and there is no 512 00:24:06,344 --> 00:24:10,614 agreement at the deadline, would that alone be an indication that 513 00:24:10,615 --> 00:24:12,315 they're not 100 percent serious? 514 00:24:12,317 --> 00:24:13,617 Mr. Earnest: No. 515 00:24:13,618 --> 00:24:21,498 I think the willingness that they have displayed to engage in 516 00:24:21,493 --> 00:24:24,263 serious discussions about some very serious issues I think is 517 00:24:24,262 --> 00:24:26,462 an indication that they take this seriously. 518 00:24:26,464 --> 00:24:29,804 But that's a long way from actually getting them to make 519 00:24:29,801 --> 00:24:32,271 the kinds of commitments that are required to prevent them 520 00:24:32,270 --> 00:24:37,010 from obtaining a nuclear weapon, and that ultimately is what we 521 00:24:37,008 --> 00:24:38,148 are most focused on. 522 00:24:38,143 --> 00:24:39,013 The Press: Okay. 523 00:24:39,010 --> 00:24:41,010 And lastly, how would you characterize -- I mean, 524 00:24:41,012 --> 00:24:43,012 you said the President is very involved, 525 00:24:43,014 --> 00:24:45,014 he may even call the negotiators today. 526 00:24:45,016 --> 00:24:47,786 Would you say that he's encouraged by what you call 527 00:24:47,786 --> 00:24:48,886 serious progress? 528 00:24:48,887 --> 00:24:50,887 Or how is he viewing this today? 529 00:24:50,889 --> 00:24:53,729 Mr. Earnest: I think today the President is interested in 530 00:24:53,725 --> 00:24:59,735 hearing from his team about where things stand in terms of 531 00:25:05,036 --> 00:25:07,436 the negotiations and I think I would characterize him as being 532 00:25:07,439 --> 00:25:10,209 obviously very interested in these serious talks. 533 00:25:10,208 --> 00:25:14,148 He recognizes the stakes here. 534 00:25:14,145 --> 00:25:18,715 But what's also true is that it's time for Iran to make some 535 00:25:18,717 --> 00:25:20,117 serious decisions. 536 00:25:20,118 --> 00:25:22,158 And if they are unwilling to make those serious decisions, 537 00:25:22,153 --> 00:25:25,223 I have no doubt that the President will be ready to move 538 00:25:25,223 --> 00:25:27,223 on to consider other alternatives. 539 00:25:27,225 --> 00:25:31,295 But we do continue to believe that the best way for the United 540 00:25:31,296 --> 00:25:34,066 States and for the international community to prevent Iran from 541 00:25:34,065 --> 00:25:36,735 obtaining a nuclear weapon is through diplomacy, 542 00:25:36,735 --> 00:25:39,105 and that's why we are so aggressively pursuing 543 00:25:39,104 --> 00:25:40,604 this option. 544 00:25:40,605 --> 00:25:42,745 Jim. 545 00:25:42,741 --> 00:25:45,441 The Press: As you say, the stakes are so high here and the 546 00:25:45,443 --> 00:25:48,313 President has, in fact, set up this deadline, 547 00:25:48,313 --> 00:25:50,813 self-imposed deadline today. 548 00:25:50,815 --> 00:25:54,385 With all that in mind, how hard would it be for President Obama 549 00:25:54,386 --> 00:25:58,256 to actually walk away from the negotiating table tonight 550 00:25:58,256 --> 00:25:59,596 or tomorrow? 551 00:25:59,591 --> 00:26:02,891 Mr. Earnest: Well, it certainly would not be the outcome that he 552 00:26:02,894 --> 00:26:08,364 prefers, but what is also true is that no deal is far better 553 00:26:08,366 --> 00:26:09,566 than a bad deal. 554 00:26:09,567 --> 00:26:11,567 The President is not going to be in a position to sign a 555 00:26:11,569 --> 00:26:13,669 bad deal. 556 00:26:13,672 --> 00:26:15,612 We've been very clear that Iran is going to have to make serious 557 00:26:15,607 --> 00:26:17,977 commitments that shut down every pathway they have to a 558 00:26:17,976 --> 00:26:19,176 nuclear weapon. 559 00:26:19,177 --> 00:26:22,347 And they will have to commit to cooperating with intrusive 560 00:26:22,347 --> 00:26:25,147 inspections to verify their compliance with the agreement. 561 00:26:25,150 --> 00:26:27,590 The reason for that is simply that we have seen repeated 562 00:26:27,585 --> 00:26:33,195 attempts over the years by Iran to try to circumvent 563 00:26:33,191 --> 00:26:34,891 international inspections. 564 00:26:34,893 --> 00:26:40,533 And that's why this agreement will be contingent upon Iran's 565 00:26:40,532 --> 00:26:44,832 cooperation with probably the most intrusive inspections of a 566 00:26:44,836 --> 00:26:47,476 nuclear program that have ever been conducted. 567 00:26:47,472 --> 00:26:54,512 And Iran has earned a reputation as an organization, 568 00:26:54,512 --> 00:26:57,682 as a government, that will go to great lengths to try to 569 00:26:57,682 --> 00:26:59,682 circumvent these kinds of inspections, 570 00:26:59,684 --> 00:27:02,224 which is precisely why we're going to insist on the most 571 00:27:02,220 --> 00:27:05,090 intrusive inspections that have ever been put in place. 572 00:27:05,090 --> 00:27:08,760 And if Iran can make those kinds of commitments in the context of 573 00:27:08,760 --> 00:27:12,030 this political agreement, then that would be the best way, 574 00:27:12,030 --> 00:27:16,130 the best possible way for us to resolve concerns about Iran's 575 00:27:16,134 --> 00:27:19,804 nuclear program and to verify that they are not acquiring a 576 00:27:19,804 --> 00:27:21,204 nuclear weapon. 577 00:27:21,206 --> 00:27:24,146 But if they're unwilling to make those kinds of commitments that 578 00:27:24,142 --> 00:27:26,142 give us that assurance -- and by us, 579 00:27:26,144 --> 00:27:28,144 I mean not just the United States, 580 00:27:28,146 --> 00:27:30,186 I mean the international community -- then we'll have to 581 00:27:30,181 --> 00:27:33,281 walk away from the negotiating table and consider what other 582 00:27:33,284 --> 00:27:34,684 options may be available to us. 583 00:27:34,686 --> 00:27:37,186 And there is certainly the possibility that that could 584 00:27:37,188 --> 00:27:38,588 happen. 585 00:27:38,590 --> 00:27:41,430 The Press: You said "consider the other options available" to 586 00:27:41,426 --> 00:27:43,396 the United States and the other nations. 587 00:27:43,395 --> 00:27:48,135 What message has been sent to Iran that -- or told to Iran 588 00:27:48,133 --> 00:27:51,473 directly, at least at the negotiating table that either we 589 00:27:51,469 --> 00:27:54,339 come to an agreement here or this is going to happen? 590 00:27:54,339 --> 00:27:58,839 What is the "this" that we've told them that they better sign 591 00:27:58,843 --> 00:28:00,183 an agreement or find an agreement, 592 00:28:00,178 --> 00:28:02,818 or else this is going to happen? 593 00:28:02,814 --> 00:28:04,884 Mr. Earnest: Well, I think we've been very clear publicly -- I'm 594 00:28:04,883 --> 00:28:07,883 not going to get into the details of what sort of words 595 00:28:07,886 --> 00:28:09,886 were exchanged around the negotiating table, 596 00:28:09,888 --> 00:28:13,188 but we've been very public about the fact that every option for 597 00:28:13,191 --> 00:28:15,561 dealing with this situation remains on the table and has 598 00:28:15,560 --> 00:28:19,000 been on the table for some time now. 599 00:28:18,997 --> 00:28:23,637 And that's not intended as a threat, but it is intended as -- 600 00:28:23,635 --> 00:28:25,105 The Press: Every option including military? 601 00:28:25,103 --> 00:28:27,143 Mr. Earnest: The military option has been on the table for quite 602 00:28:27,138 --> 00:28:29,838 some time and it continues to be on the table today. 603 00:28:29,841 --> 00:28:34,551 That said, we've also been very clear that the diplomatic 604 00:28:34,546 --> 00:28:37,686 approach would be more effective in resolving the international 605 00:28:37,682 --> 00:28:40,082 community's concerns about Iran's nuclear weapon than the 606 00:28:40,085 --> 00:28:45,025 military approach; that we know that between setting back their 607 00:28:45,023 --> 00:28:47,823 program, extending the breakout time, 608 00:28:47,826 --> 00:28:52,066 having clarity into the actual composition of their nuclear 609 00:28:52,063 --> 00:28:55,403 program that we can get all of that through negotiations and, 610 00:28:55,400 --> 00:28:58,740 frankly, a lot of that goes away if we consider the 611 00:28:58,736 --> 00:29:00,776 military option. 612 00:29:00,772 --> 00:29:04,972 That if deploying the military option were the only option, 613 00:29:04,976 --> 00:29:09,516 we would have less insight into Iran's nuclear program. 614 00:29:09,514 --> 00:29:12,014 It's possible that there would be greater incentive inside the 615 00:29:12,016 --> 00:29:15,356 country to actually pursue the kind of breakout window that 616 00:29:15,353 --> 00:29:17,353 currently exists for them. 617 00:29:18,623 --> 00:29:24,293 And we would do much less to setback their program over the 618 00:29:24,295 --> 00:29:28,665 longer term than we potentially could through diplomacy. 619 00:29:28,666 --> 00:29:31,566 And the reason I say that is we've been clear, 620 00:29:31,569 --> 00:29:33,569 based on some of the reports that have leaked, 621 00:29:33,571 --> 00:29:36,541 that this agreement that we're seeking is one that's in excess 622 00:29:36,541 --> 00:29:41,151 of a decade and it's not likely that military action would have 623 00:29:41,146 --> 00:29:43,046 a long-term impact like that on their nuclear program. 624 00:29:43,047 --> 00:29:45,687 The Press: And, finally, just to make sure I'm clear, 625 00:29:45,683 --> 00:29:49,993 while it's not the preferred option, 626 00:29:49,988 --> 00:29:53,988 the President is prepared and has let the Iranians know that 627 00:29:53,992 --> 00:29:57,532 he is prepared to walk away from the table over the next two days 628 00:29:57,529 --> 00:29:58,759 if there's not an agreement? 629 00:29:58,763 --> 00:30:03,033 Mr. Earnest: You've heard the President himself say that no 630 00:30:03,034 --> 00:30:04,834 deal is better than a bad deal. 631 00:30:04,836 --> 00:30:08,306 The United States will not sign on to a bad deal. 632 00:30:08,306 --> 00:30:11,146 The only kind of diplomatic agreement, 633 00:30:11,142 --> 00:30:13,742 political agreement that we envision is one that 634 00:30:13,745 --> 00:30:16,685 definitively shuts down every path to a nuclear weapon that 635 00:30:16,681 --> 00:30:22,791 Iran has and imposes and Iran cooperates with a set of 636 00:30:22,787 --> 00:30:25,487 extremely intrusive inspections. 637 00:30:25,490 --> 00:30:27,460 Major. 638 00:30:27,458 --> 00:30:28,628 The Press: Josh, but that's not a direct answer to that 639 00:30:28,626 --> 00:30:29,926 direct question. 640 00:30:29,928 --> 00:30:33,328 The direct question was, is the President prepared to end the 641 00:30:33,331 --> 00:30:37,271 negotiating process -- not whether or not he'll take a bad 642 00:30:37,268 --> 00:30:39,268 deal over a good deal. 643 00:30:39,270 --> 00:30:42,010 That's a separate question entirely. 644 00:30:42,006 --> 00:30:45,906 The key question is, if after a day or two there is no 645 00:30:45,910 --> 00:30:49,280 resolution, will the negotiations cease? 646 00:30:49,280 --> 00:30:53,620 Mr. Earnest: And, Major, what I was describing to Jim is that -- 647 00:30:53,618 --> 00:30:56,288 I wasn't weighing the merits of a good deal or a bad deal. 648 00:30:56,287 --> 00:31:00,827 What I was suggesting to Jim is that no deal is preferable to a 649 00:31:00,825 --> 00:31:04,365 bad deal, meaning the President is prepared to walk away from 650 00:31:04,362 --> 00:31:08,902 the negotiating table before he signed a bad agreement. 651 00:31:08,900 --> 00:31:11,240 And by bad agreement I mean an agreement that did not 652 00:31:11,236 --> 00:31:13,406 definitively shut down every pathway they have to a nuclear 653 00:31:13,404 --> 00:31:19,344 weapon and did not codify or at least commit -- get a commitment 654 00:31:19,344 --> 00:31:23,414 from Iran to cooperate with intrusive inspections. 655 00:31:23,414 --> 00:31:26,284 The Press: If there is no deal, does the Joint Plan of Action 656 00:31:26,284 --> 00:31:27,924 continue in force? 657 00:31:27,919 --> 00:31:29,019 Mr. Earnest: It does. 658 00:31:29,020 --> 00:31:30,690 You'll recall that the Joint Plan of Action is actually in 659 00:31:30,688 --> 00:31:32,588 place through June. 660 00:31:32,590 --> 00:31:36,430 And that is true regardless of what Mr. Vaqueira described as 661 00:31:36,427 --> 00:31:38,597 the arbitrary deadline for the end of this month. 662 00:31:38,596 --> 00:31:40,466 The Press: Right, but after that, 663 00:31:40,465 --> 00:31:42,835 and there is no deal and no process by which to negotiate 664 00:31:42,834 --> 00:31:44,834 one, then it all ends, is that correct? 665 00:31:44,836 --> 00:31:46,306 Mr. Earnest: Well, again -- 666 00:31:46,304 --> 00:31:48,574 The Press: Will this bill be the verification whatever is going 667 00:31:48,573 --> 00:31:51,413 on under the Joint Plan of Action disappears at the end of 668 00:31:51,409 --> 00:31:55,609 June if there is no deal or process by which to negotiate a 669 00:31:55,613 --> 00:31:56,783 replacement for that, correct? 670 00:31:56,781 --> 00:31:58,781 Mr. Earnest: That's my understanding about the way that 671 00:31:58,783 --> 00:32:00,783 the Joint Plan of Action is structured, 672 00:32:00,785 --> 00:32:02,785 is that it was extended through June, 673 00:32:02,787 --> 00:32:05,527 and what the United States and the international community said 674 00:32:05,523 --> 00:32:09,463 was that knowing that there are technical aspects of this 675 00:32:09,460 --> 00:32:11,800 agreement that will take some time to hammer out, 676 00:32:11,796 --> 00:32:14,036 that what we should do is that at the midway point of that 677 00:32:14,032 --> 00:32:16,432 extension, essentially by the end of March, 678 00:32:16,434 --> 00:32:18,604 the international community and Iran should be able to come 679 00:32:18,603 --> 00:32:21,273 together around a political agreement that would establish a 680 00:32:21,272 --> 00:32:23,372 framework for that more technical agreement. 681 00:32:23,374 --> 00:32:25,374 The Press: Just cut to the chase along the lines that Mike was 682 00:32:25,376 --> 00:32:27,746 trying to -- really the deadline isn't now; 683 00:32:27,745 --> 00:32:29,885 the deadline is June 31st -- June 30th, rather. 684 00:32:29,881 --> 00:32:33,321 Mr. Earnest: In the mind of the United States, 685 00:32:33,318 --> 00:32:35,318 and I think this is shared by the international community, 686 00:32:35,320 --> 00:32:38,190 and I think even the Iranians would acknowledge that there is 687 00:32:38,189 --> 00:32:44,199 some merit to this argument that trying to work out the political 688 00:32:46,464 --> 00:32:50,304 framework and all the technical agreements at the same time 689 00:32:50,301 --> 00:32:53,401 would be very difficult; that by establishing a framework in the 690 00:32:53,404 --> 00:32:55,404 context of a political agreement, 691 00:32:55,406 --> 00:32:58,476 which we believe we should do now would then give our experts 692 00:32:58,476 --> 00:33:01,146 time to go through and dig through all of the details. 693 00:33:01,145 --> 00:33:04,215 And here is the thing about this: An agreement like this 694 00:33:04,215 --> 00:33:07,485 certainly fulfills that old clichĂŠ about the devil being in 695 00:33:07,485 --> 00:33:12,795 the details, and making sure that every technical detail of 696 00:33:12,790 --> 00:33:15,230 this agreement is locked down and is carefully reviewed by 697 00:33:15,226 --> 00:33:19,266 both sides to make sure that there is no ambiguity about the 698 00:33:19,263 --> 00:33:21,263 kinds of commitments that Iran is making. 699 00:33:21,265 --> 00:33:25,575 And these are very technical details that require a lot of 700 00:33:25,570 --> 00:33:27,870 precision and we want to make sure that we leave ample time 701 00:33:27,872 --> 00:33:31,212 for the scientists to work through those details. 702 00:33:31,209 --> 00:33:33,209 And that's why we believe it's important to establish a 703 00:33:33,211 --> 00:33:36,281 political framework now, here at the end of March, 704 00:33:36,280 --> 00:33:38,520 so that the technical negotiators have two or three 705 00:33:38,516 --> 00:33:40,516 months to work through the details. 706 00:33:40,518 --> 00:33:42,518 The Press: Speaking of digging into the details, 707 00:33:42,520 --> 00:33:44,960 as you well know, in November of 2011, 708 00:33:44,956 --> 00:33:49,026 the IAEA put out a report about the military -- possible 709 00:33:49,026 --> 00:33:52,466 military applications of Iran's nuclear program, 710 00:33:52,463 --> 00:33:54,933 not just fissile material, but a lot of other triggering 711 00:33:54,932 --> 00:33:58,272 mechanisms and technological advances it made in pursuit of 712 00:33:58,269 --> 00:34:00,339 what it feared was a nuclear arsenal. 713 00:34:00,338 --> 00:34:04,638 To this date Iran has given no explanation to the IAEA about 714 00:34:04,642 --> 00:34:06,842 what those things were, why it did them, 715 00:34:06,844 --> 00:34:09,414 or even admitted that they existed. 716 00:34:09,414 --> 00:34:11,814 Does Iran have to admit those things were, in fact, pursued? 717 00:34:11,816 --> 00:34:16,316 And does there need to be a means by which those things -- 718 00:34:16,320 --> 00:34:19,360 triggering mechanisms, other technological advances -- have 719 00:34:19,357 --> 00:34:22,027 to be eradicated for this deal to be done? 720 00:34:22,026 --> 00:34:25,866 Mr. Earnest: Well, again, I don't want to get too far ahead 721 00:34:25,863 --> 00:34:28,203 of what is actually being negotiated right now. 722 00:34:28,199 --> 00:34:29,499 But let me -- 723 00:34:29,500 --> 00:34:30,500 The Press: That would have to be a priority. 724 00:34:30,501 --> 00:34:31,571 Mr. Earnest: Let me just say two things about that. 725 00:34:31,569 --> 00:34:34,909 The first is that at least some of the things that you are 726 00:34:34,906 --> 00:34:37,876 describing are the kinds of things that are the subject of 727 00:34:37,875 --> 00:34:42,185 ongoing negotiations right now and would be the kinds of things 728 00:34:42,180 --> 00:34:44,750 that would be resolved in the context of the 729 00:34:44,749 --> 00:34:46,719 ongoing negotiations. 730 00:34:46,717 --> 00:34:48,757 What is also true -- and this is the second thing, 731 00:34:48,753 --> 00:34:50,953 and this is important for people to understand, too, 732 00:34:50,955 --> 00:34:55,425 when it comes to our approach to Iran -- even if we are able to 733 00:34:55,426 --> 00:34:57,926 reach what we and the international community would 734 00:34:57,929 --> 00:35:01,599 describe as a good agreement -- again, 735 00:35:01,599 --> 00:35:03,599 one that shuts down every pathway they have to a nuclear 736 00:35:03,601 --> 00:35:05,901 weapon, one in which they make specific commitments about 737 00:35:05,903 --> 00:35:10,343 complying with international inspections -- we're still going 738 00:35:10,341 --> 00:35:13,841 to have a long list of concerns about Iran and their behavior. 739 00:35:13,845 --> 00:35:15,885 And I don't want to leave anybody with the impression that 740 00:35:15,880 --> 00:35:20,490 those kinds of concerns are not going to be -- there are a lot 741 00:35:20,485 --> 00:35:22,485 of negatives in there -- I don't want to leave anybody with the 742 00:35:22,487 --> 00:35:24,687 impression that we're going to resolve all of those concerns in 743 00:35:24,689 --> 00:35:26,119 the context of these talks. 744 00:35:26,123 --> 00:35:27,623 We're not going to be able to. 745 00:35:27,625 --> 00:35:32,125 The Press: But this isn't one of those other worldly concerns -- 746 00:35:32,129 --> 00:35:35,629 Lebanon, Yemen, Iraq, whatever -- 747 00:35:35,633 --> 00:35:37,473 Mr. Earnest: Support for terror, Americans who are unjustly 748 00:35:37,468 --> 00:35:40,308 detained, anti-Semitic threats against Israel. 749 00:35:40,304 --> 00:35:41,574 There's a long list. 750 00:35:41,572 --> 00:35:42,772 The Press: Right. 751 00:35:42,773 --> 00:35:44,543 But what I asked you about isn't a part any of those things. 752 00:35:44,542 --> 00:35:51,312 It is central to whatever Iran's ambitions were in pursuit of a 753 00:35:51,315 --> 00:35:52,585 nuclear arsenal. 754 00:35:52,583 --> 00:35:55,983 And they've made no representations to the IAEA that 755 00:35:55,987 --> 00:35:59,427 it finds credible about what it was doing, 756 00:35:59,423 --> 00:36:02,663 no evidence to suggest what was going on there. 757 00:36:02,660 --> 00:36:05,830 And I'm asking you, does Iran have to come clean on that 758 00:36:05,830 --> 00:36:11,470 aspect of its history and then have a way for that technology 759 00:36:11,469 --> 00:36:14,409 to be destroyed for this deal to work and to be considered 760 00:36:14,405 --> 00:36:16,245 acceptable to this administration? 761 00:36:16,240 --> 00:36:18,240 Mr. Earnest: Well, as I mentioned, 762 00:36:18,242 --> 00:36:22,812 this history that you're citing is obviously in the mind of our 763 00:36:22,813 --> 00:36:25,913 negotiators who are sitting around the table right now and 764 00:36:25,917 --> 00:36:29,087 some of the issues that you have raised are some of the issues 765 00:36:29,086 --> 00:36:31,086 that are under discussion in the negotiations. 766 00:36:31,088 --> 00:36:33,658 So I don't want to get into those details in a lot 767 00:36:33,658 --> 00:36:34,658 of detail. 768 00:36:34,659 --> 00:36:37,359 The Press: Can you describe whether or not it is a high 769 00:36:37,361 --> 00:36:39,731 priority for this administration in the context of 770 00:36:39,730 --> 00:36:40,870 this negotiation? 771 00:36:40,865 --> 00:36:43,265 Mr. Earnest: Well, again, at some point, 772 00:36:43,267 --> 00:36:45,267 if we're able to reach an agreement, 773 00:36:45,269 --> 00:36:48,439 we will be in a position where we can talk about the -- talk to 774 00:36:48,439 --> 00:36:51,809 you and the American people and members of Congress and our 775 00:36:51,809 --> 00:36:54,849 allies about what sort of commitments Iran made 776 00:36:54,845 --> 00:36:57,185 in the negotiations. 777 00:36:57,181 --> 00:37:01,851 And so the concerns like the ones that you are raising is 778 00:37:01,852 --> 00:37:03,852 something that we'll have an opportunity to discuss at that 779 00:37:03,854 --> 00:37:05,254 point if we're able to reach an agreement. 780 00:37:05,256 --> 00:37:06,856 The Press: Very quick one. 781 00:37:06,857 --> 00:37:10,157 Does this administration believe Tikrit has been freed of ISIS or 782 00:37:10,161 --> 00:37:12,301 ISIL domination? 783 00:37:12,296 --> 00:37:14,466 Or are those reports or suggestions premature? 784 00:37:14,465 --> 00:37:16,465 Mr. Earnest: Well, I know that there have been some conflicting 785 00:37:16,467 --> 00:37:17,567 reports on this. 786 00:37:17,568 --> 00:37:20,308 What I understand to be accurate is the statement that Prime 787 00:37:20,304 --> 00:37:24,444 Minister Abadi apparently posted on his website this morning 788 00:37:24,442 --> 00:37:26,442 U.S. time. 789 00:37:27,645 --> 00:37:32,015 And in the context of that -- or what that statement indicated is 790 00:37:32,016 --> 00:37:39,996 that portions of western and southern Tikrit had been taken 791 00:37:39,991 --> 00:37:43,891 by the Iraq security forces under the command of the Iraqi 792 00:37:43,894 --> 00:37:45,534 central government. 793 00:37:45,529 --> 00:37:47,969 They've obviously been able to make that progress because they 794 00:37:47,965 --> 00:37:50,705 are backed by coalition airstrikes. 795 00:37:50,701 --> 00:37:52,641 These were airstrikes that were launched at the specific request 796 00:37:52,637 --> 00:37:56,077 of Prime Minister Abadi, and it's apparent that those 797 00:37:56,073 --> 00:37:58,073 airstrikes had the intended effect, 798 00:37:58,075 --> 00:38:01,275 which has made the Iraqi security forces more effective 799 00:38:01,278 --> 00:38:02,978 on the battlefield. 800 00:38:02,980 --> 00:38:06,180 And we continue to see these Iraqi security forces operate 801 00:38:06,183 --> 00:38:08,953 under the command of the Iraqi central government, 802 00:38:08,953 --> 00:38:11,953 and we continue to see them be organized and carry out their 803 00:38:11,956 --> 00:38:15,196 missions in the kind of multi-sectarian fashion that 804 00:38:15,192 --> 00:38:19,862 reflects the diversity of the country of Iraq and reflects the 805 00:38:19,864 --> 00:38:22,704 Prime Minister's commitment that this military operation would 806 00:38:22,700 --> 00:38:27,770 not be used as cover to exact sectarian revenge. 807 00:38:27,772 --> 00:38:28,902 The Press: One last thing. 808 00:38:28,906 --> 00:38:31,846 On a heavily watched Sunday news magazine program, 809 00:38:31,842 --> 00:38:35,142 Bashar Assad was interviewed. 810 00:38:35,146 --> 00:38:37,386 I wondered if you had a chance to look at that transcript, 811 00:38:37,381 --> 00:38:38,821 if the President had -- 812 00:38:38,816 --> 00:38:39,416 (laughter) 813 00:38:39,417 --> 00:38:40,417 -- and if you have 814 00:38:40,418 --> 00:38:41,948 any comment on his assessment, A, 815 00:38:41,952 --> 00:38:44,592 that he continues to rule with the consent of the governed, 816 00:38:44,588 --> 00:38:47,788 number one, and number two, that he's encouraged by Secretary of 817 00:38:47,792 --> 00:38:51,592 State Kerry's comments about willing to negotiate his future 818 00:38:51,595 --> 00:38:53,865 with him directly. 819 00:38:53,864 --> 00:38:57,464 Mr. Earnest: Major, I did not have the opportunity to see that 820 00:38:57,468 --> 00:38:59,068 very well-regarded program that you described -- 821 00:38:59,070 --> 00:39:01,640 (laughter) 822 00:39:01,639 --> 00:39:02,639 -- but I did 823 00:39:02,640 --> 00:39:04,640 see some of the news reports about the program. 824 00:39:04,642 --> 00:39:07,242 What I would say is that we've been very clear about how we 825 00:39:07,244 --> 00:39:10,884 believe the future of Syria can be resolved, 826 00:39:10,881 --> 00:39:13,421 which is that it should be resolved around the negotiating 827 00:39:13,417 --> 00:39:16,217 table in which elements of the Assad regime, 828 00:39:16,220 --> 00:39:19,120 but not President Assad himself, would participate. 829 00:39:19,123 --> 00:39:21,323 And the reason that we do not believe President Assad should 830 00:39:21,325 --> 00:39:24,095 participate is that he has lost his legitimacy to lead 831 00:39:24,095 --> 00:39:25,425 that country. 832 00:39:25,429 --> 00:39:29,429 His willingness to use his nation's own military to target 833 00:39:29,433 --> 00:39:33,133 his citizens is something that the international community 834 00:39:33,137 --> 00:39:36,437 cannot abide, and it is why he has lost legitimacy to lead 835 00:39:36,440 --> 00:39:37,580 that country. 836 00:39:37,575 --> 00:39:41,145 But we do believe that the future of Syria should be 837 00:39:41,145 --> 00:39:43,245 decided around the negotiating table. 838 00:39:43,247 --> 00:39:46,217 And we're going to continue to support international and 839 00:39:46,217 --> 00:39:48,217 multilateral efforts to create it, 840 00:39:48,219 --> 00:39:49,719 but not with him at the table. 841 00:39:49,720 --> 00:39:51,360 Chris. 842 00:39:51,355 --> 00:39:53,895 The Press: I just want to go back to Iran and sort of try to 843 00:39:53,891 --> 00:39:56,761 differentiate between the political and technical. 844 00:39:56,761 --> 00:39:59,861 We've always known that today was this date as a sort of 845 00:39:59,864 --> 00:40:05,234 interim place to see was there the will that Iran seemed to be 846 00:40:05,236 --> 00:40:07,676 making the kind of commitments that could lead to a 847 00:40:07,671 --> 00:40:09,771 permanent deal. 848 00:40:09,774 --> 00:40:12,144 But are what falls under the political category and the 849 00:40:12,143 --> 00:40:16,283 technical category somewhat moveable? 850 00:40:16,280 --> 00:40:20,550 For example, whether -- breakout time. 851 00:40:20,551 --> 00:40:24,221 Are the things that we've talked about as being the difficult 852 00:40:24,221 --> 00:40:27,021 things, does there need to be something worked out at this 853 00:40:27,024 --> 00:40:31,764 point for it to be considered -- for Iran to have the intent to 854 00:40:31,762 --> 00:40:33,002 make a serious deal? 855 00:40:32,997 --> 00:40:36,267 Mr. Earnest: Chris, you're asking what is an important 856 00:40:36,267 --> 00:40:39,337 question and it's one that's difficult to talk about while 857 00:40:39,336 --> 00:40:41,336 the negotiations are still ongoing. 858 00:40:41,338 --> 00:40:46,048 But I can try to describe for you the idea behind the way that 859 00:40:46,043 --> 00:40:48,043 these negotiations are structured. 860 00:40:48,045 --> 00:40:51,945 And the idea is simply that at a top-line level, 861 00:40:51,949 --> 00:40:54,689 political leaders in both countries -- and when I say -- 862 00:40:54,685 --> 00:40:56,425 on both sides of the table, I guess I should say, 863 00:40:56,420 --> 00:40:58,720 because we're talking about political leaders not just from 864 00:40:58,722 --> 00:41:01,722 Iran and the United States, but political leaders in France and 865 00:41:01,725 --> 00:41:02,725 the U.K. 866 00:41:02,726 --> 00:41:06,396 and Germany and Russia and China participating. 867 00:41:06,397 --> 00:41:09,367 And ultimately, those political leaders want to come to a 868 00:41:09,366 --> 00:41:13,366 political agreement about what kind of commitments Iran is 869 00:41:13,370 --> 00:41:16,910 willing to make to demonstrate to the international community 870 00:41:16,907 --> 00:41:19,107 that they're not going to acquire a nuclear weapon. 871 00:41:19,109 --> 00:41:21,849 And in the context of those political agreements, 872 00:41:21,846 --> 00:41:25,886 we would then want to have and facilitate detailed technical 873 00:41:25,883 --> 00:41:31,193 discussions where you could essentially, 874 00:41:31,188 --> 00:41:34,788 in very detailed fashion, demonstrate how Iran will 875 00:41:34,792 --> 00:41:36,792 fulfill those broader political commitments. 876 00:41:36,794 --> 00:41:39,194 And I think that is the goal of these talks. 877 00:41:39,196 --> 00:41:42,836 So essentially, we sort of establish the top lines on the 878 00:41:42,833 --> 00:41:44,503 context of this political agreement. 879 00:41:44,501 --> 00:41:46,841 The Press: So in other words, like the breakout time and how 880 00:41:46,837 --> 00:41:48,837 long the agreement would run, those numbers would already 881 00:41:48,839 --> 00:41:49,909 be there. 882 00:41:49,907 --> 00:41:51,877 It's the details that are sort of in the subcategory that would 883 00:41:51,876 --> 00:41:53,176 be considered technical? 884 00:41:53,177 --> 00:41:55,177 Mr. Earnest: Generally speaking, that's -- again, 885 00:41:55,179 --> 00:41:57,179 I don't want to get into the details of what they're talking 886 00:41:57,181 --> 00:42:00,381 about, but generally speaking, we're talking about essentially 887 00:42:00,384 --> 00:42:02,654 the broader context of an agreement. 888 00:42:02,653 --> 00:42:05,353 And then in the context of the technical details, 889 00:42:05,356 --> 00:42:12,266 we would essentially give Iran the opportunity to demonstrate, 890 00:42:12,263 --> 00:42:14,663 in consultation with our technical experts, 891 00:42:14,665 --> 00:42:17,335 exactly how they're going to fulfill the political agreements 892 00:42:17,334 --> 00:42:19,674 that they've reached, if they're able to reach them. 893 00:42:19,670 --> 00:42:20,970 The Press: A couple of quick things on Yemen. 894 00:42:20,971 --> 00:42:23,641 The U.N. 895 00:42:23,641 --> 00:42:25,011 Human Rights Chief warned that it's on the brink of collapse. 896 00:42:25,009 --> 00:42:27,909 Does the administration agree with that assessment? 897 00:42:27,912 --> 00:42:29,582 Mr. Earnest: Well, it's probably not the first time that somebody 898 00:42:29,580 --> 00:42:30,480 from the U.N. 899 00:42:30,481 --> 00:42:31,781 has made that assessment. 900 00:42:31,782 --> 00:42:33,282 Yemen is a very tumultuous place, 901 00:42:33,284 --> 00:42:35,584 and it has been for a long time. 902 00:42:35,586 --> 00:42:38,886 We obviously are concerned about the political situation inside 903 00:42:38,889 --> 00:42:44,329 Yemen, and it's clear that there is a lot of violence in that 904 00:42:44,328 --> 00:42:46,398 country -- even more than usual. 905 00:42:46,397 --> 00:42:48,767 And the United States is, of course, 906 00:42:48,766 --> 00:42:53,906 supportive of the efforts by Saudi Arabia to try to resolve 907 00:42:53,904 --> 00:42:56,504 the security situation along their border. 908 00:42:56,507 --> 00:43:02,117 But ultimately we believe that the U.N.-led diplomatic process 909 00:43:02,112 --> 00:43:04,112 is one that everybody should support. 910 00:43:04,114 --> 00:43:07,884 And that is a process that would result in the Houthis and 911 00:43:07,885 --> 00:43:10,255 President Hadi's government sitting at the negotiating table 912 00:43:10,254 --> 00:43:13,224 and trying to resolve their differences in that context, 913 00:43:13,223 --> 00:43:14,763 rather than on the battlefield. 914 00:43:14,758 --> 00:43:20,098 There are reports that there were dozens of innocent 915 00:43:20,097 --> 00:43:24,367 civilians who were killed in a camp in Yemen. 916 00:43:24,368 --> 00:43:30,378 The details of how that violence occurred are still unknown at 917 00:43:30,374 --> 00:43:31,974 this point. 918 00:43:31,976 --> 00:43:33,976 But I do think it underscores, Chris, 919 00:43:33,978 --> 00:43:37,418 how important it is for the violence to come to an end, 920 00:43:37,414 --> 00:43:42,724 and for the diplomatic efforts to commence so that we can try 921 00:43:42,720 --> 00:43:45,190 to bring some civility to that situation and try to end the 922 00:43:45,189 --> 00:43:47,329 violence that has wrecked that country for so long. 923 00:43:47,324 --> 00:43:50,924 The Press: And the State Department officials I guess 924 00:43:50,928 --> 00:43:53,568 acknowledge they received the letters -- a letter from the 925 00:43:53,564 --> 00:43:57,904 lawyers for Sharif Mobley who has been held in Yemen since 926 00:43:57,901 --> 00:44:01,171 2010, expressing concern. 927 00:44:01,171 --> 00:44:04,571 They have suggested that this administration -- after it 928 00:44:04,575 --> 00:44:09,715 suspended its operations at the embassy -- have abandoned this 929 00:44:09,713 --> 00:44:12,583 American, and they are asking for some sort of intervention. 930 00:44:12,583 --> 00:44:15,923 They are concerned that the bombing by Saudi Arabia could 931 00:44:15,919 --> 00:44:17,519 kill him. 932 00:44:17,521 --> 00:44:19,861 Is the White House aware of this letter? 933 00:44:19,857 --> 00:44:22,827 Is there any action that is planned to be taken as a result 934 00:44:22,826 --> 00:44:24,366 of it? 935 00:44:24,361 --> 00:44:26,561 Mr. Earnest: I don't have any actions to announce at this 936 00:44:26,563 --> 00:44:28,403 point, but I can get somebody to follow up with you on it. 937 00:44:28,399 --> 00:44:30,499 The Press: Is the White House aware of the letter and the 938 00:44:30,501 --> 00:44:32,501 concerns that have been expressed by his lawyer? 939 00:44:32,503 --> 00:44:34,273 Mr. Earnest: I don't know if we have received that letter here, 940 00:44:34,271 --> 00:44:35,871 but we can check on that for you. 941 00:44:35,873 --> 00:44:37,713 Shannon. 942 00:44:37,708 --> 00:44:38,838 The Press: I want to go back to the climate plan that you 943 00:44:38,842 --> 00:44:40,012 started with. 944 00:44:40,010 --> 00:44:41,610 We're obviously going to make the deadline today. 945 00:44:41,612 --> 00:44:43,652 Numerous other countries under the same deadline aren't going 946 00:44:43,647 --> 00:44:44,847 to make it. 947 00:44:44,848 --> 00:44:47,718 We're talking about major polluters like China, India. 948 00:44:47,718 --> 00:44:50,818 What is the administration's thinking on moving forward with 949 00:44:50,821 --> 00:44:53,691 a plan that some say is so ambitious there's no way we can 950 00:44:53,690 --> 00:44:57,960 actually physically achieve it when these other countries are 951 00:44:57,961 --> 00:45:00,361 -- they're not going to make the deadline, apparently. 952 00:45:00,364 --> 00:45:03,304 But bigger concern, long term, whether they're going to be able 953 00:45:03,300 --> 00:45:05,170 to make these same commitments and sacrifices that we're 954 00:45:05,169 --> 00:45:06,369 committing to. 955 00:45:06,370 --> 00:45:08,710 Mr. Earnest: Well, Shannon, we have seen China make some very 956 00:45:08,705 --> 00:45:11,605 serious commitments, which they made in the context of President 957 00:45:11,608 --> 00:45:14,448 Obama's visit to China just three or four months ago. 958 00:45:14,445 --> 00:45:18,445 And this is an agreement that will stretch over 10 years or 959 00:45:18,449 --> 00:45:21,419 so, so I think it's too early to say -- or too early to judge 960 00:45:21,418 --> 00:45:23,018 about whether or not they'll be able to live up to 961 00:45:23,020 --> 00:45:24,920 their commitments. 962 00:45:24,922 --> 00:45:27,122 They certainly demonstrated how that was possible by making the 963 00:45:27,124 --> 00:45:29,924 kind of historic and unprecedented investment in 964 00:45:29,927 --> 00:45:33,967 clean energy that would succeed in weaning at least some of 965 00:45:33,964 --> 00:45:38,474 their power generation off of or at least away from 966 00:45:38,469 --> 00:45:39,669 coal-fired plants. 967 00:45:39,670 --> 00:45:43,310 That would have an extraordinarily positive impact 968 00:45:43,307 --> 00:45:49,117 on efforts to fight climate change because China is the 969 00:45:49,113 --> 00:45:51,183 world's largest emitter of carbon pollution. 970 00:45:51,181 --> 00:45:54,081 So the kind of serious commitment that we saw them make 971 00:45:54,084 --> 00:45:56,084 would have a material difference. 972 00:45:56,086 --> 00:46:00,556 And I would acknowledge that you're right, that over time, 973 00:46:00,557 --> 00:46:05,997 China will have the opportunity to demonstrate the seriousness 974 00:46:05,996 --> 00:46:07,996 of their commitment to this issue. 975 00:46:07,998 --> 00:46:10,298 And there are a whole host of reasons for them to be serious 976 00:46:10,300 --> 00:46:11,440 about it. 977 00:46:11,435 --> 00:46:16,005 One is that they obviously are keenly aware of the impact of 978 00:46:16,006 --> 00:46:18,006 our changing climate. 979 00:46:19,776 --> 00:46:23,216 There is plenty of evidence to indicate that there is some 980 00:46:23,213 --> 00:46:25,313 political activity in China associated with this, 981 00:46:25,315 --> 00:46:28,285 that the population has expressed significant concerns 982 00:46:28,285 --> 00:46:30,855 about the poor air quality across that country. 983 00:46:30,854 --> 00:46:34,724 So there is an interest in China both in making these kinds of 984 00:46:34,725 --> 00:46:36,765 commitments, but also in backing them up. 985 00:46:36,760 --> 00:46:39,630 And time will tell if they're willing to do so. 986 00:46:39,630 --> 00:46:43,270 The Press: And as a follow to that, not surprising, 987 00:46:43,267 --> 00:46:44,367 there is pushback from the Hill from a number of leaders there 988 00:46:44,368 --> 00:46:46,208 who say this represents yet another agreement that Congress 989 00:46:46,203 --> 00:46:47,843 should be involved with. 990 00:46:47,838 --> 00:46:50,278 They feel like they should have a voice in any agreement of this 991 00:46:50,274 --> 00:46:52,674 nature on the international scale. 992 00:46:52,676 --> 00:46:54,376 How do you respond to them? 993 00:46:54,378 --> 00:46:55,608 Mr. Earnest: Well, these are individuals who -- many of whom, 994 00:46:55,612 --> 00:46:58,552 at least, deny the fact that climate change even exists. 995 00:46:58,549 --> 00:47:01,089 So I'm not sure they would be in the best position to decide 996 00:47:01,084 --> 00:47:04,484 whether or not a climate change agreement is one that is worth 997 00:47:04,488 --> 00:47:05,618 entering into. 998 00:47:05,622 --> 00:47:09,362 The fact is, the kind of an agreement that the President 999 00:47:09,359 --> 00:47:12,059 succeeded in striking with China and is implementing here in the 1000 00:47:12,062 --> 00:47:17,532 United States is one that will have a positive impact on carbon 1001 00:47:17,534 --> 00:47:21,304 pollution, will have a positive impact on trying to make the air 1002 00:47:21,305 --> 00:47:24,805 safer for Americans here in this country, 1003 00:47:24,808 --> 00:47:27,508 and will have a positive impact on our economy. 1004 00:47:27,511 --> 00:47:30,711 And that's why the President is pursuing this so aggressively. 1005 00:47:30,714 --> 00:47:34,084 And we certainly would welcome any kind of support that we 1006 00:47:34,084 --> 00:47:36,084 could get from Congress on that measure. 1007 00:47:36,086 --> 00:47:38,156 The Press: But content aside, is this the kind of agreement that 1008 00:47:38,155 --> 00:47:41,355 Congress should have an ability to sign off on? 1009 00:47:41,358 --> 00:47:43,928 Mr. Earnest: Well, again, I think it's hard to take 1010 00:47:43,927 --> 00:47:48,067 seriously from some members of Congress who deny the fact that 1011 00:47:48,065 --> 00:47:52,035 climate change exists that they should have some opportunity to 1012 00:47:52,035 --> 00:47:55,475 render judgment about a climate change agreement. 1013 00:47:55,472 --> 00:47:56,472 Carol. 1014 00:47:56,473 --> 00:47:59,143 The Press: Yesterday, the administration was saying that 1015 00:47:59,142 --> 00:48:03,982 March 31st is the deadline that has to mean something, 1016 00:48:03,981 --> 00:48:07,651 and that decisions only get harder after March 31st. 1017 00:48:07,651 --> 00:48:11,721 So given that you're showing a willingness already to extend 1018 00:48:11,722 --> 00:48:16,292 the deadline, how does that send a message that March 31st has to 1019 00:48:16,293 --> 00:48:17,763 mean something? 1020 00:48:17,761 --> 00:48:21,061 And if decisions don't get easier after today, 1021 00:48:21,064 --> 00:48:27,274 then how can you expect to accomplish in another day or two 1022 00:48:27,271 --> 00:48:30,741 what you haven't been able to accomplish in more than a year? 1023 00:48:30,741 --> 00:48:33,981 Mr. Earnest: Well, because this has been a longer process. 1024 00:48:33,977 --> 00:48:37,147 That is why -- because we have made some progress and we have 1025 00:48:37,147 --> 00:48:40,587 seen a sustained commitment by the Iranians to engage in 1026 00:48:40,584 --> 00:48:42,584 serious negotiations. 1027 00:48:44,321 --> 00:48:46,921 These talks will -- there are only two scenarios under which 1028 00:48:46,923 --> 00:48:49,423 -- I guess there are two conditions by which these talks 1029 00:48:49,426 --> 00:48:51,196 would continue tomorrow. 1030 00:48:51,194 --> 00:48:54,294 The first is that they haven't reached an agreement today -- 1031 00:48:54,298 --> 00:48:57,838 and there are still several hours to go before the deadline. 1032 00:48:57,834 --> 00:49:01,304 The second is that they're actually making progress toward 1033 00:49:01,305 --> 00:49:02,575 that goal. 1034 00:49:02,572 --> 00:49:04,612 And if it means that we need to continue the conversations 1035 00:49:04,608 --> 00:49:06,778 tomorrow to complete the agreement, 1036 00:49:06,777 --> 00:49:10,547 I think common sense would dictate that it's worth pursuing 1037 00:49:10,547 --> 00:49:11,617 in that way. 1038 00:49:11,615 --> 00:49:13,555 The Press: Would you agree that it only gets harder tomorrow? 1039 00:49:13,550 --> 00:49:15,550 Mr. Earnest: It certainly doesn't get any easier. 1040 00:49:15,552 --> 00:49:19,752 And I think what is a part of these kinds of conversations is 1041 00:49:19,756 --> 00:49:22,726 that as the negotiators are working through the different 1042 00:49:22,726 --> 00:49:25,326 issues, that the most difficult issues are the ones that are put 1043 00:49:25,329 --> 00:49:26,799 to the end. 1044 00:49:26,797 --> 00:49:30,797 And now that we are essentially at the end of the negotiations, 1045 00:49:30,801 --> 00:49:33,971 the only things that are left on the table are the toughest 1046 00:49:33,970 --> 00:49:34,970 things to resolve. 1047 00:49:34,971 --> 00:49:39,881 And again, I think that's why you've seen so many long 1048 00:49:39,876 --> 00:49:43,116 negotiations over the last 24 and 36 hours. 1049 00:49:43,113 --> 00:49:45,913 And as long as those conversations continue to be 1050 00:49:45,916 --> 00:49:49,256 productive, we're going to continue to have them. 1051 00:49:49,252 --> 00:49:50,852 Toluse. 1052 00:49:50,854 --> 00:49:52,124 The Press: Thank you. 1053 00:49:52,122 --> 00:49:55,962 You said the toughest things to resolve are the things that are 1054 00:49:55,959 --> 00:49:59,429 left, but you did say that there has been significant progress. 1055 00:49:59,429 --> 00:50:02,569 Would you still put the odds at less than 50 percent? 1056 00:50:02,566 --> 00:50:06,006 And if so, why not just stick to the deadline? 1057 00:50:06,002 --> 00:50:09,602 Mr. Earnest: Well, the reason that we have described the odds 1058 00:50:09,606 --> 00:50:13,806 as 50/50 is that we are mindful of the fact that any sort of 1059 00:50:13,810 --> 00:50:17,880 agreement will have to be signed off on by Iran's 1060 00:50:17,881 --> 00:50:19,081 political leadership. 1061 00:50:19,082 --> 00:50:21,782 And I think it is fair to say that those kinds of decisions 1062 00:50:21,785 --> 00:50:24,185 aren't made with a lot of transparency. 1063 00:50:24,187 --> 00:50:26,887 So there is some doubt about, ultimately, 1064 00:50:26,890 --> 00:50:29,760 the way that this gets resolved and ultimately, 1065 00:50:29,760 --> 00:50:34,260 whether or not Iran will make the kinds of commitments that 1066 00:50:34,264 --> 00:50:36,434 are currently being discussed and insisted upon by the 1067 00:50:36,433 --> 00:50:37,773 international community. 1068 00:50:37,768 --> 00:50:42,838 And it's that measure of doubt that leads us to continue to 1069 00:50:42,839 --> 00:50:49,879 conclude that there's a definite possibility that Iran can't make 1070 00:50:49,880 --> 00:50:53,450 the kinds of commitments that the international community is 1071 00:50:53,450 --> 00:50:54,450 insisting upon. 1072 00:50:54,451 --> 00:50:56,451 And if that's the case, then the United States and the 1073 00:50:56,453 --> 00:50:58,453 international community will be forced to consider 1074 00:50:58,455 --> 00:51:00,755 some alternatives. 1075 00:51:00,757 --> 00:51:03,327 The Press: You have mentioned that over the course of the last 1076 00:51:03,326 --> 00:51:05,166 year there have been these hundreds of briefings with 1077 00:51:05,162 --> 00:51:09,062 Congress and also our allies and officials in Israel. 1078 00:51:09,065 --> 00:51:11,265 Are those briefings continuing as we get down to the wire? 1079 00:51:11,268 --> 00:51:13,138 Or is the U.S. 1080 00:51:13,136 --> 00:51:16,206 sort of going into this -- into the final stage of this 1081 00:51:16,206 --> 00:51:18,906 negotiation hoping to iron out a deal? 1082 00:51:18,909 --> 00:51:22,209 Or is Congress being given a play-by-play on how things 1083 00:51:22,212 --> 00:51:24,012 are going? 1084 00:51:24,014 --> 00:51:26,384 Mr. Earnest: Well, I don't have any specific conversations to 1085 00:51:26,383 --> 00:51:27,383 talk about. 1086 00:51:27,384 --> 00:51:29,384 I can tell you that the administration takes very 1087 00:51:29,386 --> 00:51:34,056 seriously the need to keep leaders in Congress carefully 1088 00:51:34,057 --> 00:51:36,557 apprised of the status of the ongoing negotiations. 1089 00:51:38,628 --> 00:51:41,898 With Congress not in session, and in some cases, 1090 00:51:41,898 --> 00:51:45,068 scattered around the globe, it's not always easy to 1091 00:51:45,068 --> 00:51:47,008 track them down. 1092 00:51:47,003 --> 00:51:50,773 But we have provided updates, and we stand ready to provide 1093 00:51:50,774 --> 00:51:52,774 additional updates if necessary. 1094 00:51:52,776 --> 00:51:56,046 The Press: With what looks like sort of a sliding deadline, 1095 00:51:56,046 --> 00:51:59,116 does that impact sort of keeping Congress on board, 1096 00:51:59,115 --> 00:52:02,585 keeping them at bay as they want to pass legislation? 1097 00:52:02,586 --> 00:52:05,086 A lot of Democrats have waited and said that they would wait 1098 00:52:05,088 --> 00:52:07,788 and hold off until this deadline before they moved forward. 1099 00:52:07,791 --> 00:52:10,061 Now it seems like the deadline is sliding. 1100 00:52:10,060 --> 00:52:12,930 Is it going to make it more difficult to keep Congress from 1101 00:52:12,929 --> 00:52:14,399 going ahead and acting on its own? 1102 00:52:14,397 --> 00:52:18,337 Mr. Earnest: Well, our case to Congress has been and always 1103 00:52:18,335 --> 00:52:21,935 will be that Congress should -- will have an opportunity if a 1104 00:52:21,938 --> 00:52:24,478 deal is reached to evaluate that agreement, 1105 00:52:24,474 --> 00:52:26,474 and they should do so on the merits, 1106 00:52:26,476 --> 00:52:28,676 and they should do so with the ultimate goal in mind, 1107 00:52:28,678 --> 00:52:32,548 which is to verify that Iran is not able to obtain a 1108 00:52:32,549 --> 00:52:33,549 nuclear weapon. 1109 00:52:33,550 --> 00:52:35,550 And that's going to require, as I mentioned, 1110 00:52:35,552 --> 00:52:37,722 Iran making serious commitments to shutting down every pathway 1111 00:52:37,721 --> 00:52:42,761 to a nuclear weapon, and it will require Iran to indicate a 1112 00:52:42,759 --> 00:52:44,759 willingness to cooperate with historically 1113 00:52:44,761 --> 00:52:46,631 intrusive inspections. 1114 00:52:46,630 --> 00:52:51,400 And there will be ample opportunity for members of 1115 00:52:51,401 --> 00:52:53,501 Congress, for our allies, for our partners, 1116 00:52:53,503 --> 00:52:56,143 and even for the American people to evaluate the wisdom of this 1117 00:52:56,139 --> 00:52:58,579 deal if a deal is reached. 1118 00:52:58,575 --> 00:53:00,145 Anita. 1119 00:53:00,143 --> 00:53:03,043 The Press: The House committee that's looking into the Benghazi 1120 00:53:03,046 --> 00:53:07,116 attacks has asked that Secretary Clinton appear before them today 1121 00:53:07,117 --> 00:53:08,687 -- or not today; they asked today. 1122 00:53:08,685 --> 00:53:10,685 I wonder what your thoughts are. 1123 00:53:10,687 --> 00:53:14,257 They're also calling it -- it sort of sounds like a private -- 1124 00:53:14,257 --> 00:53:15,997 that they would close the panel or something because they said 1125 00:53:15,992 --> 00:53:18,092 it would be a transcribed thing. 1126 00:53:18,094 --> 00:53:20,694 I know she in the past said she would be willing to appear in 1127 00:53:20,697 --> 00:53:21,727 front of them. 1128 00:53:21,731 --> 00:53:22,901 Do you think this is even necessary? 1129 00:53:22,899 --> 00:53:24,639 This is about the emails, obviously. 1130 00:53:24,634 --> 00:53:28,904 Mr. Earnest: Well, this will obviously be a discussion for 1131 00:53:28,905 --> 00:53:31,175 the leaders of that committee and Secretary Clinton and her 1132 00:53:31,174 --> 00:53:33,114 team to have. 1133 00:53:33,109 --> 00:53:35,249 So I don't have an opinion on it. 1134 00:53:35,245 --> 00:53:37,715 The Press: Well, but you've said in the past that you think that 1135 00:53:37,714 --> 00:53:39,714 the White House, the administration has done enough. 1136 00:53:39,716 --> 00:53:41,386 Mr. Earnest: We certainly have. 1137 00:53:41,384 --> 00:53:45,224 But ultimately if the committee makes a request and Secretary 1138 00:53:45,221 --> 00:53:47,221 Clinton, in her capacity as a private citizen, 1139 00:53:47,223 --> 00:53:50,493 decides that she wants to once again go above and beyond in 1140 00:53:50,493 --> 00:53:54,833 terms of trying to provide them information and access, 1141 00:53:54,831 --> 00:53:57,601 then that would be a decision for her to make. 1142 00:53:57,601 --> 00:53:59,131 Luke. 1143 00:53:59,135 --> 00:54:01,805 The Press: Senator Warner today said that he would sign on to 1144 00:54:01,805 --> 00:54:04,675 Corker-Menendez congressional review of any possible 1145 00:54:04,674 --> 00:54:05,944 Iran deal. 1146 00:54:05,942 --> 00:54:08,582 What's the White House's strategy to try and keep 1147 00:54:08,578 --> 00:54:13,118 Democrats in line as they approach a veto-proof majority 1148 00:54:13,116 --> 00:54:14,456 on this legislation? 1149 00:54:14,451 --> 00:54:17,851 Mr. Earnest: Well, our strategy is principally focused on 1150 00:54:17,854 --> 00:54:19,854 staying in close touch with members of Congress who have an 1151 00:54:19,856 --> 00:54:21,856 interest in this agreement that's currently 1152 00:54:21,858 --> 00:54:23,158 being negotiated. 1153 00:54:23,159 --> 00:54:25,159 The second is to assure members of Congress, 1154 00:54:25,161 --> 00:54:28,831 as the President has, and as I have on a number of occasions, 1155 00:54:28,832 --> 00:54:32,502 that they'll have an opportunity to evaluate the political 1156 00:54:32,502 --> 00:54:35,742 agreement, if one is reached, and that we certainly would 1157 00:54:35,739 --> 00:54:39,439 intend to help them understand exactly what Iran is committed 1158 00:54:39,442 --> 00:54:40,612 to do. 1159 00:54:40,610 --> 00:54:42,610 And once they are able to do that, 1160 00:54:42,612 --> 00:54:44,982 we would encourage them to consider an agreement -- again, 1161 00:54:44,981 --> 00:54:47,381 if an agreement is reached -- on the merits. 1162 00:54:47,384 --> 00:54:51,684 And it is the view of the President -- who is obviously 1163 00:54:51,688 --> 00:54:55,928 leading this strategy -- that diplomacy is, by far, 1164 00:54:55,925 --> 00:54:57,925 the best way for us to prevent Iran from obtaining a 1165 00:54:57,927 --> 00:54:59,367 nuclear weapon. 1166 00:54:59,362 --> 00:55:02,932 And so that's the context in which we believe that the 1167 00:55:02,932 --> 00:55:04,202 agreement should be evaluated. 1168 00:55:04,200 --> 00:55:07,770 But at this point, it's too early for anybody to say that 1169 00:55:07,771 --> 00:55:10,511 they have concerns about it or that it seems like it's going to 1170 00:55:10,507 --> 00:55:12,577 be a bad deal because a deal hasn't been reached. 1171 00:55:12,575 --> 00:55:14,315 The Press: What does it say about your negotiating strategy, 1172 00:55:14,310 --> 00:55:17,180 though, that the President's own party seems to be checking him 1173 00:55:17,180 --> 00:55:20,120 here, essentially getting so close to a veto-proof majority 1174 00:55:20,116 --> 00:55:22,616 that shows a degree of being uncomfortable of 1175 00:55:22,619 --> 00:55:23,789 what's happening? 1176 00:55:23,787 --> 00:55:25,787 Mr. Earnest: Well, I'm not sure that's how they would 1177 00:55:25,789 --> 00:55:28,529 describe that. 1178 00:55:28,525 --> 00:55:31,025 I think what we're going to continue to do is to keep an 1179 00:55:31,027 --> 00:55:32,827 open line of communication with both Democrats and Republicans. 1180 00:55:32,829 --> 00:55:35,069 And what's unfortunate is that over the course of this 1181 00:55:35,065 --> 00:55:40,005 situation, we have, on occasion, seen Republicans act in a 1182 00:55:40,003 --> 00:55:42,803 brazenly partisan fashion to try to undermine the deal. 1183 00:55:42,806 --> 00:55:45,906 I'm specifically referring to the letter that was signed by 47 1184 00:55:45,909 --> 00:55:49,309 Republican senators to the leaders of the Islamic Republic 1185 00:55:49,312 --> 00:55:50,652 of Iran. 1186 00:55:50,647 --> 00:55:53,587 And it's unfortunate that an agreement like this would be 1187 00:55:53,583 --> 00:55:57,023 subject to -- or negotiations like this would be subject to 1188 00:55:57,020 --> 00:55:59,120 such rank partisanship. 1189 00:55:59,122 --> 00:56:03,422 But we are hopeful that that kind of partisan fever has 1190 00:56:03,426 --> 00:56:08,366 subsided at least enough to convince members of Congress to 1191 00:56:08,364 --> 00:56:11,664 set aside their partisan interest and actually evaluate 1192 00:56:11,668 --> 00:56:15,308 an agreement, if one is reached, with the country's best interest 1193 00:56:15,305 --> 00:56:16,335 in mind. 1194 00:56:16,339 --> 00:56:20,949 And there will be a temptation by some to play partisan 1195 00:56:20,944 --> 00:56:23,114 politics, but that, frankly, is something that we've only seen 1196 00:56:23,113 --> 00:56:25,483 on the Republican aisle -- on the Republican side of the aisle 1197 00:56:25,482 --> 00:56:27,752 so far. 1198 00:56:27,751 --> 00:56:28,781 The Press: So you're confident if there's a deal, 1199 00:56:28,785 --> 00:56:30,485 there's enough Democratic support at the end of the day? 1200 00:56:30,487 --> 00:56:32,687 Mr. Earnest: What I'm confident of is that both Democrats and 1201 00:56:32,689 --> 00:56:35,329 Republicans in the Congress will have an opportunity to evaluate 1202 00:56:35,325 --> 00:56:36,425 the agreement. 1203 00:56:36,426 --> 00:56:39,766 And we are hopeful that both Democrats and Republicans will 1204 00:56:39,763 --> 00:56:42,633 set aside their partisan interests and actually evaluate 1205 00:56:42,632 --> 00:56:45,972 the agreement based solely on the national security interests 1206 00:56:45,969 --> 00:56:46,969 of the United States. 1207 00:56:46,970 --> 00:56:49,370 And if they do that, I'm confident that we'll have 1208 00:56:49,372 --> 00:56:51,642 substantial support for this agreement. 1209 00:56:51,641 --> 00:56:55,211 But, again, this all presumes that an agreement is able to be 1210 00:56:55,211 --> 00:56:57,781 reached, and we haven't reached one yet. 1211 00:56:57,781 --> 00:56:58,781 Isaac. 1212 00:56:58,782 --> 00:57:01,682 The Press: Given that the deadline has changed for today, 1213 00:57:01,684 --> 00:57:04,354 should we expect that June 30th is a firm deadline for the 1214 00:57:04,354 --> 00:57:06,924 administration, or could we be, on June 30th, 1215 00:57:06,923 --> 00:57:09,523 sitting here with you saying, well, 1216 00:57:09,526 --> 00:57:11,126 if things continue to make progress, 1217 00:57:11,127 --> 00:57:13,397 we'll continue to have conversations? 1218 00:57:13,396 --> 00:57:15,736 Mr. Earnest: Well, there is a difference -- as has been 1219 00:57:15,732 --> 00:57:19,432 highlighted both between Mr. Viqueira and Mr. Garrett -- 1220 00:57:19,435 --> 00:57:22,535 a difference in the deadline at the end of March and the 1221 00:57:22,539 --> 00:57:24,679 difference in the June deadline. 1222 00:57:24,674 --> 00:57:27,714 Essentially the June deadline is when the Joint Plan of Action 1223 00:57:27,710 --> 00:57:32,450 agreement would end. 1224 00:57:32,448 --> 00:57:35,488 Now, as many have pointed out, the Joint Plan of Action is an 1225 00:57:35,485 --> 00:57:44,795 agreement that has been extended at least twice, as I recall. 1226 00:57:44,794 --> 00:57:48,734 But again, the fact that it's been extended twice is evidence 1227 00:57:48,731 --> 00:57:51,401 that we've been negotiating over this for a long time. 1228 00:57:51,401 --> 00:57:54,141 The Press: But on July 1st, is that when the President starts 1229 00:57:54,137 --> 00:57:56,207 to consider other options and walks from the table? 1230 00:57:56,206 --> 00:57:59,076 Mr. Earnest: Well, again, I actually would say that if we're 1231 00:57:59,075 --> 00:58:02,075 not able to reach a political agreement in the timeline that 1232 00:58:02,078 --> 00:58:05,248 we've described, that we would walk away from the 1233 00:58:05,248 --> 00:58:07,288 negotiating table. 1234 00:58:07,283 --> 00:58:11,183 If we're not able to reach a political agreement then we're 1235 00:58:11,187 --> 00:58:16,497 not going to wait all the way until June 30th to walk away. 1236 00:58:16,492 --> 00:58:19,162 Again, because of the way that these negotiations are 1237 00:58:19,162 --> 00:58:22,162 structured, we believe it's important for us -- when I say 1238 00:58:22,165 --> 00:58:25,005 "us" I mean Iran and the international community -- to 1239 00:58:25,001 --> 00:58:29,541 reach a topline political framework prior to entering into 1240 00:58:29,539 --> 00:58:31,539 the more technical negotiations. 1241 00:58:31,541 --> 00:58:33,541 And it's important to leave some time for those technical 1242 00:58:33,543 --> 00:58:35,083 negotiations to take place. 1243 00:58:35,078 --> 00:58:37,918 So that's what we envision. 1244 00:58:37,914 --> 00:58:40,854 The Press: And is it the administration's view at this 1245 00:58:40,850 --> 00:58:42,090 point that the only thing holding up a deal are things 1246 00:58:42,085 --> 00:58:43,685 related to the nuclear talks and not any of the other issues in 1247 00:58:43,686 --> 00:58:45,286 the region? 1248 00:58:45,288 --> 00:58:47,828 Mr. Earnest: That is our view, yes. 1249 00:58:47,824 --> 00:58:55,494 And to be specific, the P5+1 is united, 1250 00:58:55,498 --> 00:58:57,468 the United States and our international partners are 1251 00:58:57,467 --> 00:58:59,467 united in our negotiating position. 1252 00:58:59,469 --> 00:59:01,469 So what's really holding up the talks is the specific commitment 1253 00:59:01,471 --> 00:59:03,471 from the Iranians that we need to see. 1254 00:59:03,473 --> 00:59:06,973 And that's what we're making progress against, 1255 00:59:06,976 --> 00:59:11,146 and that is what would lead us to continuing the conversations 1256 00:59:11,147 --> 00:59:15,187 tomorrow is if we're not able to reach an agreement tonight but 1257 00:59:15,184 --> 00:59:19,154 yet the conversations continue to be productive. 1258 00:59:19,155 --> 00:59:20,555 Ali. 1259 00:59:20,556 --> 00:59:23,056 The Press: I want to ask about Iran first. 1260 00:59:23,059 --> 00:59:25,899 You, just a minute ago to Luke, said that you want Democrats and 1261 00:59:25,895 --> 00:59:28,595 Republicans to set aside their partisan differences. 1262 00:59:28,598 --> 00:59:31,438 But there seems to be growing bipartisan opposition to the 1263 00:59:31,434 --> 00:59:34,574 idea of letting a deal come to fruition without insight from 1264 00:59:34,570 --> 00:59:38,410 Congress and a vote. 1265 00:59:38,408 --> 00:59:41,548 So I just wonder if you could clarify what you mean by having 1266 00:59:41,544 --> 00:59:45,084 Democrats and Republicans set aside bipartisan concerns -- 1267 00:59:45,081 --> 00:59:46,851 excuse me, partisan. 1268 00:59:46,849 --> 00:59:48,449 Mr. Earnest: Yes, I hear you. 1269 00:59:48,451 --> 00:59:49,891 I'm saying two things. 1270 00:59:49,886 --> 00:59:55,026 One is that we have seen Republicans play in a pretty 1271 00:59:55,024 --> 00:59:57,164 brazen fashion partisan politics with this, 1272 00:59:57,160 --> 01:00:03,030 that we saw Senator Cotton and 46 of his partners in the 1273 01:00:03,032 --> 01:00:06,672 Republican cloakroom get together and sign a letter to 1274 01:00:06,669 --> 01:00:10,239 the leaders of the Islamic Republic of Iran trying to 1275 01:00:10,239 --> 01:00:11,739 undermine the talks. 1276 01:00:11,741 --> 01:00:14,711 And that was a brazen partisan effort. 1277 01:00:14,711 --> 01:00:17,351 And it's certainly not consistent with the way that the 1278 01:00:17,347 --> 01:00:19,647 American people I think would expect their elected 1279 01:00:19,649 --> 01:00:24,049 representatives to evaluate the best interests of the United 1280 01:00:24,053 --> 01:00:25,053 States of America. 1281 01:00:25,054 --> 01:00:27,054 It may be, in the minds of some of them, 1282 01:00:27,056 --> 01:00:30,026 the best way to try to seek a partisan advantage, 1283 01:00:30,026 --> 01:00:32,596 but what we're looking for is an American advantage. 1284 01:00:32,595 --> 01:00:35,165 And that's exactly the way that the President is trying to 1285 01:00:35,164 --> 01:00:36,604 conduct these negotiations. 1286 01:00:36,599 --> 01:00:41,009 Now, the second thing I would say is that this has sometimes 1287 01:00:41,004 --> 01:00:46,414 been -- I'll be polite -- misunderstood by some members 1288 01:00:46,409 --> 01:00:47,909 of Congress. 1289 01:00:47,910 --> 01:00:52,620 The administration has long envisioned a role for Congress 1290 01:00:52,615 --> 01:00:55,555 in this agreement, and that is, specifically, 1291 01:00:55,551 --> 01:01:01,861 part of this agreement will be eventually the removal of the 1292 01:01:01,858 --> 01:01:06,098 sanctions that Congress put in place against Iran. 1293 01:01:06,095 --> 01:01:08,165 In order for those sanctions to be removed, 1294 01:01:08,164 --> 01:01:10,164 Congress will have to take a vote. 1295 01:01:10,166 --> 01:01:12,136 And what the United States -- or what the Obama administration 1296 01:01:12,135 --> 01:01:18,875 has said is that the sanctions put in place by Congress should 1297 01:01:18,875 --> 01:01:21,645 remain in place for some time until we can see that Iran has 1298 01:01:21,644 --> 01:01:24,914 agreed to live up to the commitments that they make. 1299 01:01:24,914 --> 01:01:30,054 And what Congress wrote into that sanctions legislation was 1300 01:01:30,053 --> 01:01:33,593 the ability of the President of the United States to waive some 1301 01:01:33,589 --> 01:01:36,159 elements of those sanctions, essentially, 1302 01:01:36,159 --> 01:01:38,159 understanding that that's how an agreement would work, 1303 01:01:38,161 --> 01:01:42,631 that essentially we would see over time the phased reduction 1304 01:01:42,632 --> 01:01:47,332 in sanctions after Iran over a period of time demonstrates 1305 01:01:47,336 --> 01:01:49,336 sustained commitment to the agreement. 1306 01:01:49,338 --> 01:01:51,338 And that is the way that we believe the agreement should 1307 01:01:51,340 --> 01:01:52,340 be structured. 1308 01:01:52,341 --> 01:01:55,011 There's some difference of agreement about this in Iran. 1309 01:01:55,011 --> 01:01:57,781 Iran would like to see those sanctions removed right away 1310 01:01:57,780 --> 01:01:59,780 because they're having a debilitating impact on 1311 01:01:59,782 --> 01:02:00,982 their economy. 1312 01:02:00,983 --> 01:02:04,223 But the United States -- again, given Iran's past history and 1313 01:02:04,220 --> 01:02:07,720 their questionable compliance with previous international 1314 01:02:07,723 --> 01:02:10,123 agreements, we're going to make sure that Iran demonstrates 1315 01:02:10,126 --> 01:02:12,466 sustained compliance to the agreement before we even 1316 01:02:12,462 --> 01:02:15,302 contemplate removing the kinds of congressional sanctions that 1317 01:02:15,298 --> 01:02:17,298 have been so effective in compelling Iran to the 1318 01:02:17,300 --> 01:02:18,300 negotiating table. 1319 01:02:18,301 --> 01:02:19,531 The Press: Can I ask one more question on Syria? 1320 01:02:19,535 --> 01:02:20,875 Mr. Earnest: Sure. 1321 01:02:20,870 --> 01:02:23,110 The Press: Your announcement today about the $508 million in 1322 01:02:23,106 --> 01:02:27,476 humanitarian aid, that comes as the international Donors 1323 01:02:27,477 --> 01:02:30,047 Conference has announced a total of $4 billion, 1324 01:02:30,046 --> 01:02:32,646 which is still just about half of what the U.N. 1325 01:02:32,648 --> 01:02:34,988 says it needs to do what it needs to do to shore up the 1326 01:02:34,984 --> 01:02:37,784 humanitarian situation there. 1327 01:02:37,787 --> 01:02:40,757 So given that, should the United States be doing more? 1328 01:02:40,756 --> 01:02:43,326 Should other members of the international community be 1329 01:02:43,326 --> 01:02:45,166 giving even more? 1330 01:02:45,161 --> 01:02:46,231 Mr. Earnest: Well, it's my understanding that the United 1331 01:02:46,229 --> 01:02:49,669 States continues to be the largest contributor on a 1332 01:02:49,665 --> 01:02:55,035 bilateral basis of assistance to this humanitarian disaster. 1333 01:02:55,037 --> 01:02:59,107 And there are millions of people in Syria and across the region 1334 01:02:59,108 --> 01:03:01,378 who have been displaced by the violence there. 1335 01:03:01,377 --> 01:03:02,647 It's tragic. 1336 01:03:02,645 --> 01:03:06,915 And some of the reporting that I have seen from the region puts a 1337 01:03:06,916 --> 01:03:10,556 real human face on something that we discuss in somewhat 1338 01:03:10,553 --> 01:03:12,053 academic terms here. 1339 01:03:12,054 --> 01:03:15,694 But there has been a real human cost to this political 1340 01:03:15,691 --> 01:03:18,391 instability and this violence, and it's tragic. 1341 01:03:18,394 --> 01:03:22,634 And the United States is demonstrating that we're going 1342 01:03:22,632 --> 01:03:26,132 to continue to lead not just based on our economic and 1343 01:03:26,135 --> 01:03:29,835 political influence, but by our moral influence; 1344 01:03:29,839 --> 01:03:35,009 that we as a country understand that people are suffering and 1345 01:03:35,011 --> 01:03:38,851 that we have an opportunity to try to alleviate that suffering. 1346 01:03:38,848 --> 01:03:40,388 But that need is significant. 1347 01:03:40,383 --> 01:03:41,883 And we're going to continue to work with the international 1348 01:03:41,884 --> 01:03:45,754 community to mobilize the necessary resources to try to 1349 01:03:45,755 --> 01:03:46,755 meet these needs. 1350 01:03:46,756 --> 01:03:48,756 The Press: And so, meanwhile, though, the UAE, 1351 01:03:48,758 --> 01:03:52,128 Saudi Arabia donating on the lower end of the totals that are 1352 01:03:52,128 --> 01:03:55,068 coming from these countries -- Saudi Arabia only donated $60 1353 01:03:55,064 --> 01:03:59,164 million, compared to Norway reportedly donating $93 million. 1354 01:03:59,168 --> 01:04:03,468 So should those nations that are in the neighborhood be stepping 1355 01:04:03,472 --> 01:04:05,472 up more and providing more, especially with a country like 1356 01:04:05,474 --> 01:04:09,444 the Saudis who can probably afford to give a little more? 1357 01:04:09,445 --> 01:04:11,115 Mr. Earnest: Well, based on the substantial commitment you've 1358 01:04:11,113 --> 01:04:14,053 seen from the United States, I think you can interpret that 1359 01:04:14,050 --> 01:04:16,050 this is something that we feel strongly about. 1360 01:04:16,052 --> 01:04:18,052 And we are going to continue to encourage countries all over the 1361 01:04:18,054 --> 01:04:23,024 world to consider what they can do to try to meet this 1362 01:04:23,025 --> 01:04:26,625 humanitarian disaster for very moral reasons. 1363 01:04:26,629 --> 01:04:28,029 Richard, I'm going to give you the last one. 1364 01:04:28,030 --> 01:04:30,630 The Press: Thank you very much, Josh. 1365 01:04:30,633 --> 01:04:32,633 First, about the 60 nation coalition. 1366 01:04:32,635 --> 01:04:35,035 Last night, the Canadian parliament voted in favor of 1367 01:04:35,037 --> 01:04:38,477 extending the Canadian involvement by one year, 1368 01:04:38,474 --> 01:04:40,674 and from Iraq to Syria. 1369 01:04:40,676 --> 01:04:42,116 First, any reaction by the White House? 1370 01:04:42,111 --> 01:04:44,481 Mr. Earnest: Well, obviously we appreciate the substantial 1371 01:04:44,480 --> 01:04:48,080 contribution that Canada has made to this international 1372 01:04:48,084 --> 01:04:54,494 alliance; that Canada is regularly among the more 1373 01:04:54,490 --> 01:04:56,760 reliable partners that the United States has in a variety 1374 01:04:56,759 --> 01:04:59,299 of ways, particularly when it comes to military action. 1375 01:04:59,295 --> 01:05:02,635 And so we are very pleased to see that Canada has prepared to 1376 01:05:02,632 --> 01:05:05,002 extend their commitment in pursuit of our strategy for 1377 01:05:05,001 --> 01:05:07,601 degrading and ultimately destroying ISIL. 1378 01:05:07,603 --> 01:05:09,503 The Press: It was a tough debate in parliament in part because of 1379 01:05:09,505 --> 01:05:13,505 the legal basis to attack ISIL within Syria without the call 1380 01:05:13,509 --> 01:05:15,149 for help from the Syrian government, 1381 01:05:15,144 --> 01:05:17,884 and also the length of the mission. 1382 01:05:17,880 --> 01:05:21,250 First, where are we in the fight within Syria? 1383 01:05:21,250 --> 01:05:23,550 We talk about some success around Tikrit in Iraq, 1384 01:05:23,552 --> 01:05:25,852 but in Syria we never hear about any success. 1385 01:05:25,855 --> 01:05:27,725 Where's the mission going? 1386 01:05:27,723 --> 01:05:29,293 Mr. Earnest: Well, there are a couple of things that I can 1387 01:05:29,292 --> 01:05:32,732 update you on. 1388 01:05:32,728 --> 01:05:37,238 The first is that the effort to train members of the moderate 1389 01:05:37,233 --> 01:05:42,273 Syrian opposition to enhance their capacity to operate on the 1390 01:05:42,271 --> 01:05:44,971 battlefield against ISIL is something that's ongoing. 1391 01:05:44,974 --> 01:05:48,374 And this is obviously an effort that's being supported by Saudi 1392 01:05:48,377 --> 01:05:51,077 Arabia and other countries in the region. 1393 01:05:51,080 --> 01:05:53,080 And we're very appreciative of that effort. 1394 01:05:53,082 --> 01:05:55,482 I actually don't know -- I think it's possible that -- I know 1395 01:05:55,484 --> 01:05:59,994 that in the past, Canadian military officials have had a 1396 01:05:59,989 --> 01:06:01,059 role in some of these training efforts. 1397 01:06:01,057 --> 01:06:02,527 I don't know if they're involved in this specific thing, 1398 01:06:02,525 --> 01:06:04,565 and we can check on that for you. 1399 01:06:04,560 --> 01:06:06,800 But obviously that is a key component of our strategy. 1400 01:06:06,796 --> 01:06:09,896 What we need is we need a force on the ground in Syria that can 1401 01:06:09,899 --> 01:06:14,569 take the fight on the ground in Syria to ISIL. 1402 01:06:14,570 --> 01:06:17,940 There is one area of the country where we have had a force 1403 01:06:17,940 --> 01:06:19,110 like that. 1404 01:06:19,108 --> 01:06:24,048 There are Kurds who have been operating on the ground first in 1405 01:06:24,046 --> 01:06:27,386 Kobani and then in the areas around Kobani, 1406 01:06:27,383 --> 01:06:31,153 where they have had success in pushing back ISIL fighters. 1407 01:06:31,153 --> 01:06:34,023 They have done so with the backing of coalition 1408 01:06:34,023 --> 01:06:35,793 military airstrikes. 1409 01:06:35,791 --> 01:06:38,491 Again, that is some evidence -- and important evidence -- that 1410 01:06:38,494 --> 01:06:40,694 the strategy that we have laid out can succeed; 1411 01:06:40,696 --> 01:06:42,696 that by building up the capacity of local fighters, 1412 01:06:42,698 --> 01:06:44,698 by training them and equipping them, 1413 01:06:44,700 --> 01:06:46,840 and providing them with military air support, 1414 01:06:46,836 --> 01:06:48,836 that we can actually turn the tide on the battlefield, 1415 01:06:48,838 --> 01:06:52,738 and that these forces that have been fighting ISIL for some time 1416 01:06:52,742 --> 01:06:55,682 without, frankly, a lot to show for it; 1417 01:06:55,678 --> 01:06:58,918 that they can be much more effective on the battlefield 1418 01:06:58,914 --> 01:07:00,884 under this scenario with the additional training, 1419 01:07:00,883 --> 01:07:04,153 with the additional equipment, and with the backing of military 1420 01:07:04,153 --> 01:07:05,153 air support. 1421 01:07:05,154 --> 01:07:07,194 And that's the strategy that we're going to pursue. 1422 01:07:07,189 --> 01:07:12,659 But I would -- what you're identifying is that the progress 1423 01:07:12,661 --> 01:07:15,861 that we've made in Iraq is more substantial than the progress 1424 01:07:15,865 --> 01:07:17,865 we've made on the ground in Syria. 1425 01:07:17,867 --> 01:07:20,467 And the reason for that is we do have a substantial fighting 1426 01:07:20,469 --> 01:07:24,139 force on the ground in Iraq that is taking the fight to ISIL. 1427 01:07:24,140 --> 01:07:27,840 We don't have that corresponding ground force in Syria. 1428 01:07:27,843 --> 01:07:30,613 But we're working, even as we speak, 1429 01:07:30,613 --> 01:07:33,783 to train and equip that force so that they can take the fight on 1430 01:07:33,783 --> 01:07:36,823 the ground to ISIL fighters in their own country. 1431 01:07:36,819 --> 01:07:37,949 The Press: Soon? 1432 01:07:37,953 --> 01:07:39,453 This year? 1433 01:07:39,455 --> 01:07:40,855 Mr. Earnest: Well, for an update on that timing, 1434 01:07:40,856 --> 01:07:42,296 I would turn you over to the Department of Defense, 1435 01:07:42,291 --> 01:07:44,761 who may be able to give you an update on that ongoing effort. 1436 01:07:44,760 --> 01:07:45,760 Thanks, everybody. 1437 01:07:45,761 --> 01:07:46,761 We'll see you tomorrow.