English subtitles for clip: File:3-31-15- White House Press Briefing.webm

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Mr. Earnest: Good
afternoon, everybody.

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We have a full house today.

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It's nice to see you all.

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The Press: How come?

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(laughter)

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Mr. Earnest: Well, it's always
nice to see so many smiling

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faces.

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The Press: How come
it's a full house?

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Mr. Earnest: Oh, I don't know.

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I was hoping you were
going to tell me.

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Let me do a quick announcement
before we get to your questions.

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This is something you've
already heard a little bit on,

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but I just wanted to underscore
the significance of

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this announcement.

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Last November, many of you were
there when President Obama stood

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alongside President Xi Jinping
at the Great Hall of the People

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in Beijing and made a commitment
to reduce our country's carbon

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emissions to 26 to 28 percent
of 2005 levels by 2025.

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At the same event, China made a
substantial commitment to peak

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and then reduce their
carbon pollution,

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making a huge and unprecedented
commitment to clean energy.

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Today, the United States
submitted to the United Nations

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our plan for meeting this goal.

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It's evidence once again how
President Obama and the United

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States is leading the world
to confront the challenge of

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climate change.

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And in light of
today's announcement,

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we're confident that other
countries will now step up and

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follow our lead.

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The steps that the United
States will take to meet our

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commitments includes
the Clean Power Plan,

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higher efficiency standards
on cars and trucks,

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improved energy-efficiency
standards for buildings,

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broader efforts to reduce HFCs
in methane emissions -- these

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are gases that have a
disproportionate impact on

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climate change.

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And the good news is that these
steps aren't just good for the

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environment, they also
are good for our economy.

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We know that investments
in clean energy,

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including clean energy
manufacturing and research and

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development, have tremendous
economic potential.

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But we can also look back
over the last few years.

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Even as the United States has
cut our carbon pollution by more

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than any other country over the
last several years, we've also,

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over a similar time frame,
bounced back from the worst

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economic downturn since the
Great Depression and created

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more than 12 million jobs in
just the last five years.

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So this is a significant
announcement,

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and I would anticipate that over
the course of this year this is

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an issue that we'll have the
opportunity to continue

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to discuss.

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So, with that windup, Julie,
do you want to get us

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started today?

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The Press: Thanks, Josh.

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I have a couple
questions on Iran.

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Officials in Switzerland are
starting to talk about the idea

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of extending the talks beyond
the midnight deadline if there

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is enough sign of progress.

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So I wonder two things -- one,
do you see enough signs of

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progress today to
extend beyond midnight?

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And how flexible is the
President willing to be on

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this deadline?

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Are we talking about going into
another day, another week?

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Mr. Earnest: Well, Julie, I can
tell you that the President has

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been updated already today on
the latest status of the ongoing

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talks in Switzerland to prevent
Iran from obtaining a

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nuclear weapon.

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I would not rule out the
President possibly being in

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touch with members of the
negotiating team later today.

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We'll do our best to keep you
updated on that situation.

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The update that I've received
is that our negotiators have

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determined, over the context of
a mostly sleepless night last

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night and long negotiations over
the course of the day in Europe

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today, that they're going to
continue these conversations

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tomorrow as long as -- well, if
necessary -- and as long the

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conversations continue
to be productive.

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Now, the President has been very
clear that we've been having

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these conversations for
more than a year now.

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The international community,
standing alongside the United

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States, is seeking very specific
and very serious commitments

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from the Iranians to shut down
every pathway they have to a

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nuclear weapon and to agree to
intrusive inspections to verify

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their compliance
with the agreement.

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And we've been very clear that
if, after a year of negotiating,

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that Iran is not in a position
to make those serious

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commitments that we're going to
be prepared to consider

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other alternatives.

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But if necessary, if the
conversations continue to be

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productive, it's possible that
talks could continue

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into tomorrow.

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The Press: So that decision
hasn't been made yet?

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Mr. Earnest: Right now,
it's still March 31st.

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Our negotiators are engaged in
serious negotiations that have

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been going on not just over
the course of the last year,

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which is relevant here, but also
over the last day they've been

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engaged in very
serious negotiations.

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And if it's necessary -- and
when I say if it's necessary I

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mean if it's midnight and a deal
has not been reached but the

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conversations continue to be
productive -- then they'd be

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prepared to continue
the talks into tomorrow.

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The Press: And does that apply
to then another day and another

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day after that?

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At what point do you reach
your limit on even these

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short extensions?

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Mr. Earnest: Well, I think it's
fair to say that we've reached

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our limit right
now in as far as --

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The Press: You haven't if you're
willing to extend another day.

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Mr. Earnest: Well, in as far
as the conversations have been

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going on for more than a year.

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We've established this deadline
for trying to reach a political

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agreement whereby we would have
a framework that would guide the

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technical negotiations that
would have to continue

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into June.

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But at the same time, it also
doesn't make sense if we are

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getting serious engagement from
the other side to just abruptly

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end the talks based on this
deadline, because the fact is,

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if we are making progress
toward the finish line,

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then we should keep going.

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But ultimately, this
is, like I said,

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something that we have been
talking about for more than a

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year now, and it's time for Iran
to make the serious commitments

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that they know the international
community is expecting them to

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make to reach an agreement.

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And if they're not willing to
make those serious commitments,

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then the United States will,
alongside the international

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community, be in a position of
having to consider some

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other alternatives.

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The Press: I want to move on to
the Indiana religious

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freedom law.

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Governor Pence said earlier this
morning that he wants to amend

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that legislation to clarify that
it does not allow discrimination

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against gays and lesbians.

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Does the White House feel that
that is the right approach,

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to amend it?

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Or do you support a
full repeal of it?

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Mr. Earnest: Well, ultimately,
putting this state law in place

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will require some decisions
that are made by the state

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legislature of Indiana and then
ultimately by the

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governor of Indiana.

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The kind of public outcry that
we've seen in response to the

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signing of the law I think is
indicative of how this piece of

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legislation flies in the face of
the kinds of values that people

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all across the country
strongly support.

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And we've seen the governor
and other Indiana officials in

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damage-control mode here because
this law has provoked an outcry

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from business leaders
across the state of Indiana.

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We've seen criticism from even
religious groups inside the

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state of Indiana.

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We've seen concerns raised
by the Republican mayor of

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Indianapolis about the impact
that this law would have on the

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economy of the state.

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And understandably, we see
business leaders saying that

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they are reluctant to do
business in a state where their

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customers or even their
employees could be subjected to

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greater discrimination just
because of who they love.

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That's not fair.

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It's not consistent with our
values as a country that we

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hold dear.

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And I think that's what has
provoked the strong outcry,

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and I think it's what has
provoked the previously defiant

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governor to consider a
position of changing the law.

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The Press: There are some legal
scholars and supporters of the

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law that say it's actually
rooted in a 1993 federal law

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that's been upheld
by the courts.

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Does the President feel that
there is a need to amend

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that law?

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Mr. Earnest: Well, I know that
Governor Pence has tried to

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falsely suggest that the law
that was signed in Indiana is

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the same as the law that was
passed at the federal level

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in 1993.

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That is not true.

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And the reason that that's not
true is that the 1993 law was an

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effort to try to protect the
religious liberty of religious

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minorities based on actions that
could be taken by the

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federal government.

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The Indiana law is much broader.

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It doesn't just apply to
individuals or

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religious minorities.

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It applies to -- and I'm
quoting here -- "a partnership,

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a limited liability company, a
corporation, a company, a firm,

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a society, a joint
stock company,

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or an unincorporated
association."

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So this obviously is a
significant expansion of the law

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in terms of the way
that it would apply.

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It leaves open the question,
what sort of religious views a

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joint stock company may hold,
but that may be something for

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lawyers to ponder.

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At the same time, it's also
worth noting that the law in

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Indiana doesn't just apply
to interactions with the

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government; it also applies to
private transactions, as well,

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which means that this is a
much more open-ended piece of

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legislation that could
reasonably be used to try to

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justify discriminating against
somebody because of who

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they love.

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And again, that is why we've
seen such a bipartisan and even

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non-political outcry
against this law.

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And again, I think that is
also what has prompted Indiana

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officials to reconsider the
wisdom of this approach.

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Roberta.

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The Press: I want to ask about
the elections in Nigeria.

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What is the White House's
reaction to the election of the

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new president, President Buhari?

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And what's the White House
assessment of what his new

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leadership will mean for the
fight against Boko Haram?

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Mr. Earnest: Well, at this point
it's too soon to speculate on

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the likely outcome
of the elections,

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but we do congratulate the
people of Nigeria who exercised

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their civic duty by
going to the polls.

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We would like to especially
commend the patience that voters

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demonstrated and their
commitment to participate in the

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democratic process.

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We also have been heartened by
the consensus on the part of

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independent international
observers that the elections

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were largely free,
fair, and transparent,

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with only isolated disruptions
due to violence and

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technical challenges.

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The world is obviously paying
very close attention to what

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happens next.

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And we here in the United States
continue to encourage all

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candidates to abide by the Abuja
Accord signed in January and the

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additional peace pledge signed
last week to respect the

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official results and to
encourage their followers to do

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the same.

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This is, of course, entirely
consistent with the message that

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the President delivered to the
Nigerian people in the Internet

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video that we
released last week.

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The Press: So what has to
happen for the White House to

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acknowledge the results
of the election?

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Maybe that's a dumb question.

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Mr. Earnest: Well, I think what
we would want to see next is an

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announcement from election
officials inside Nigeria about

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the results before we
would weigh in here.

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The Press: Lastly, how does
the White House view the Arab

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military force that was
announced on the weekend?

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Is this a good thing for U.S.

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national security interests?

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Mr. Earnest: Well, what we saw
from these Arab nations that

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were meeting in Egypt over
the weekend was essentially a

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commitment to put together a
coalition of armed forces that

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essentially they could draw upon
to react to security challenges

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in that region of the world.

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There are a lot of details
that were left unstated,

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00:11:20,246 --> 00:11:23,016
or at least unagreed to.

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And so we would obviously depend
a lot on what sort of -- what

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00:11:28,654 --> 00:11:30,654
the command
structure looks like,

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00:11:30,656 --> 00:11:33,626
how decisions would be made
about deploying the force.

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00:11:33,626 --> 00:11:37,226
Obviously, the United States has
strong relationships and in some

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00:11:37,229 --> 00:11:39,229
cases even strong
military-to-military

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00:11:39,231 --> 00:11:42,031
relationships with many of the
countries that have entered into

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00:11:42,034 --> 00:11:45,434
this broad agreement.

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00:11:45,438 --> 00:11:49,708
So we're obviously going to
watch closely what additional

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00:11:49,708 --> 00:11:53,208
steps the countries take
to put this together.

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00:11:53,212 --> 00:11:56,782
It's obviously something that
we'll watch closely and have

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00:11:56,782 --> 00:11:59,382
conversations about.

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The other thing that I would
point out is that many of these

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00:12:01,353 --> 00:12:03,893
countries are countries that
have contributed to the ongoing

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00:12:03,889 --> 00:12:07,759
military effort inside of Yemen
that Saudi Arabia initiated in

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00:12:07,760 --> 00:12:11,860
response to security concerns
along their border with Yemen.

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00:12:11,864 --> 00:12:15,264
The United States is providing
some important intelligence and

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00:12:15,267 --> 00:12:18,607
logistical support to that
ongoing military operation.

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00:12:18,604 --> 00:12:21,144
This is indicative of the kind
of strong military-to-military

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00:12:21,140 --> 00:12:25,340
relationship that we
have with Saudi Arabia.

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00:12:25,344 --> 00:12:27,414
And so we're going to continue
to watch the decisions that are

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00:12:27,413 --> 00:12:34,783
being made by the countries that
have sort of agreed to this in

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00:12:34,787 --> 00:12:38,887
principle, but it's hard for me
to say at this point -- render a

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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.

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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

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00:12:50,469 --> 00:12:54,069
about some of those details
that you said were left unsaid?

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00:12:54,073 --> 00:12:55,873
Mr. Earnest: Well, I certainly
wouldn't rule that out.

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00:12:55,875 --> 00:13:00,145
These are countries that the
United States often -- well,

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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

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00:13:04,150 --> 00:13:06,150
the world, and given the close
relationship that we have with

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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,

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00:13:15,761 --> 00:13:18,231
that have been in touch
with them in recent days.

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00:13:18,230 --> 00:13:19,530
Mr. Viqueira.

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00:13:19,532 --> 00:13:20,662
The Press: Thank you, Josh.

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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.

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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,

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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.