Obama: Iran recognition of Israel not part of deal

David Jackson | USA TODAY

WASHINGTON – President Obama says Iran should not be required to recognize the state of Israel as part of a nuclear agreement involving the United States and its allies.

"The notion that we would condition Iran not getting nuclear weapons in a verifiable deal on Iran recognizing Israel is really akin to saying that we won't sign a deal unless the nature of the Iranian regime completely transforms," Obama told NPR News. "And that is, I think, a fundamental misjudgment."

Obama told NPR in an interview taped Monday that he wants an agreement restricting Iran's nuclear program "precisely because we can't bank on the nature of the regime changing – that's exactly why we don't want to have nuclear weapons."

He added: "If suddenly Iran transformed itself to Germany or Sweden or France then there would be a different set of conversations about their nuclear infrastructure."

Israel officials and some U.S. lawmakers have criticized the proposed framework of a Iran nuclear deal, saying it leaves in place an infrastructure that can be used to make weapons. Some Israelis regard Iran as an existential threat.

The NPR News interview is part of an administration media campaign designed to win support for the idea of an Iranian nuclear agreement.

Negotiators plan to work out the details of a final agreement in which the allies would reduce sanctions on Iran if it gives up the means to make nuclear weapons.

Senate Republicans question Iran's sincerity. Some are demanding that Congress sign off on any final agreement, a move Obama may resist.

"The (Obama) administration needs to explain to the Congress and the American people why an interim agreement should result in reduced pressure on the world's leading state sponsor of terror," said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.