An historic deal, a giant shift in the US relationship to the Middle East, and there is jubilation around the world.

We have reached an agreement. — Javad Zarif (@JZarif) November 24, 2013

The Iranian President is proud, restrained, but sees a new way opening for his country.

Iranian people’s vote for #moderation & constructive engagement + tireless efforts by negotiating teams are to open new horizons. #IranTalks — Hassan Rouhani (@HassanRouhani) November 24, 2013

The White House put out this photo of the president announcing the deal.

Just now on MSNBC Chuck Todd said this could be a “crowning achievement” of the Obama administration, though the domestic fallout will be a big problem. Domestic fallout means: the lobby.

The Obama administration is releasing the president’s statement in tweets that are aimed at the skeptics, emphasizing that this is a deal to stop Iranian nukes. But also, joy:

Obama: “As I have said many times, my strong preference is to resolve this issue peacefully—we have extended the hand of diplomacy.” #Iran — The White House (@WhiteHouse) November 24, 2013

A sense of the moment here:

President Obama on #Iran: “Today, that diplomacy opened up a new path toward a world that is more secure.” — The White House (@WhiteHouse) November 24, 2013

Kerry just spoke in Geneva.

Kerry calls out people who would just “put on more pressure, turn the screws” in hopes that Iran “capitulates or collapses” // @AIPAC — Ali Gharib (@Ali_Gharib) November 24, 2013

Kerry: “I know there are those who will assert that this deal is imperfect. They should say what the alternative is.” — Ali Gharib (@Ali_Gharib) November 24, 2013

Gharib tweeted this photo of Zarif hugging France’s Laurent Fabius, the strongest advocate for Israel at the talks.

Netanyahu’s twitter account is silent.

Ambassador Ron Dermer, crickets.

Here’s the joint statement from Zarif and Catherine Ashton of the EU. Bland. Though: “Today’s agreement is a significant step towards developing our relationship in a more constructive way.”

Other reaction on twitter:

This agreement shows it is possible to work with #Iran, and through diplomacy address intractable problems #IranTalks — William Hague (@WilliamJHague) November 24, 2013

@jzarif & @johnkerry shake hand!A historic moment in history of the 2 country! what would be the hardliners reaction? pic.twitter.com/tiYWtkWNmJ — Omid Memarian (@Omid_M) November 24, 2013

A lot of talk about the lobby’s failure

RT @mattyglesias: Funny to see Israel Lobby types furiously pleading the case of the Gulf monarchies. — Eli Clifton (@EliClifton) November 24, 2013

Katrina vanden Heuvel of The Nation says to “ignore Israel’s warnings” (but to trust and verify). She is also jubilant:

Diplomacy has delivered U.S.& Iran from brink of a disastrous war & placed the 2 countries at beginning of a sustainable path forward. — Katrina vandenHeuvel (@KatrinaNation) November 24, 2013

More cracks at the lobby:

Wolf AIPAC Blitzer — Yousef Munayyer (@YousefMunayyer) November 24, 2013

Ari Fleischer is going nuts.

The Iran deal and our allies: You can’t spell abandonment without OBAMA. — Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) November 24, 2013

More rage from Ari Fleischer.

O couldn’t monitor his own Admin to get Obamacare done right. Why does anyone think he’ll be able to monitor Iran to get a nuke deal right? — Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) November 24, 2013

Jubilation from Zbig Brzezinski:

Obama/Kerry = best policy team since Bush I/Jim Baker. Congress is finally becoming embarrassed by Netanyahu’s efforts to dictate US policy. — Zbigniew Brzezinski (@zbig) November 19, 2013

And a foolish response to Brzezinski from Jeffrey Goldberg:

Jews run America, suggests ex-national security adviser: https://t.co/1ZH2R7jyuC — Jeffrey Goldberg (@JeffreyGoldberg) November 24, 2013

But Goldberg is afraid to criticize the deal. Josh Block of The Israel Project isn’t.

If this deal allows #Iran to continue manufacturing centrifuges, there is no halt to its march toward nuclear weapons. — Josh Block (@JoshBlockDC) November 24, 2013



The Washington Institute for Near East Policy is being judicious, uncritical.

More lobby laughs.

Wolf Blitzer looks like he’s been crying. — Murtaza Hussain (@MazMHussain) November 24, 2013

More jubilation, from Scott Roth, who wrote, This is MOMENTOUS:

All you neocon fucks having a hissy fit, tough shit. — Scott Roth (@scottroth76) November 24, 2013

More about the historic moment:

Rmmeber, this is about more than just enrichment. This will help determine direction of Iran for decades to come #IranElection #IranTalks — Trita Parsi (@tparsi) November 24, 2013

Omri Ceren says that Parsi’s organization should be registered as a foreign agent, and Jeffrey Goldberg retweets.

RT @EliLake: You’re lucky you don’t have to report those expenses on a FARA form RT @tparsi: Tonight, I’m buying drinks in honor of @EliLake — Omri Ceren (@cerenomri) November 24, 2013

This is a calumny. Why? Because unlike AIPAC and the AJC and the ADL, the National Iranian American Council are critics of the Iranian regime.

Now here is a statement from the National Iranian American Council’s Trita Parsi, warning about the opposition that will now arise in the U.S. to the deal. Notice the reference to human rights in Iran.

“Diplomacy has delivered the U.S. and Iran from the brink of a disastrous war and placed the two countries at the beginning of a brighter, more sustainable path forward. NIAC congratulates Presidents Obama and Rouhani, Secretary Kerry and Minister Zarif, and all of the diplomats involved in breaking the paradigm of enmity that have undermined both country’s interests… “Ultimately, it is the Iranian people and the American people who deserve the most credit. Both are responsible for this initial victory by rejecting defeatists who said that a brighter future was not possible, diplomacy could not succeed, and that the only viable options were antagonism, rejectionism, threats and military contingencies. “This is the beginning, not the end of the process. The U.S. and Iran must continue vigorously pursuing a long-term agreement that can put the two countries on a sustainable path forward to peaceful relations. Many obstacles and potential spoilers remain. Hardliners in both countries will work harder than ever to sabotage this pivot towards a diplomatic path. Those whose only currency is confrontation will search for any opportunities they can find to undermine and sabotage this interim deal. “In the U.S. Congress, there are threats to move forward with sanctions that would unravel the delicate diplomatic process and, ironically, likely unravel the international sanctions at the same time. It is imperative that moderates in the U.S. and Iran prevail, and it will take the continued strong support of the American and Iranian people for compromise and negotiation to succeed. “If this path continues, the biggest winners will be ordinary Americans and ordinary Iranians…. “Iranian Americans, who overwhelmingly oppose war and broad economic sanctions, and who have suffered under the standoff between the two countries, want to see a future in which the U.S. enjoys positive relations with an Iran that truly represents its people. Today, that future appears more possible than ever. “It is critical that, with negotiations progressing, human rights are made a priority and that meaningful dialogue on human rights is made a centerpiece broader negotiations. Iranian Americans want peace and diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Iran, but such a relationship must also not turn a blind eye to the plight of ordinary people at the hands of their government. Just as is the case with resolving the nuclear issue, diplomacy remains the best tool for advancing human rights.”

J Street, the Israel lobby group that pushed the deal, celebrates it too, and doesn’t mention the hardliners. It’s trying to sell the deal to lovers of Israel: