Reaction to the Iran nuclear deal The agreement between the Iranian government and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany, will lift economic sanctions in exchange for long-term curbs to Iran’s nuclear programme ------------------------------------------------------------- WHITE HOUSE President Barack Obama: Diplomacy is preferred solution to Iran’s nuclear ambitions ------------------------------------------------------------ EUROPEAN UNION Germany, France, and UK have formed European-Iranian Business Alliance to kick-start trade with Iran. Germany has already sent business delegation to Tehran. Since 2013 German exports to Iran sank from €4.7 billion to €2.1bn ------------------------------------------------------------ UNITED NATIONS Security Council unanimously backs deal ------------------------------------------------------------ RUSSIA President Vladimir Putin: Took serious credit for accord. Russia has long been Iran’s main arms supplier. Moscow will immediately proceed with sale to Tehran of state-of-the-art S-300 surface-to-air missile system ------------------------------------------------------------ U.S. CONGRESS Has 60 days to decide whether to approve or reject deal. Hawkish Republican critics are urging that deal be scuttled ------------------------------------------------------------- ISRAEL Benjamin Netanyahu: Prime Minister has called on U.S. Congress to reject agreement. Israel has not ruled out unilateral military action against Iran’s nuclear facilities --------------------------------------------------------- GULF NATIONS Absence of Gulf Cooperation Council at secretive talks made many uncomfortable --------------------------------------------------------- SUPREME LEADER Iran’s Revolutionary Guards vehemently oppose accordIran’s Ayatollah Ali Khamenei praised “slogans of the people – Death to Israel, death to U.S.” following announcement of deal Iran's Revolutionary Guards vehemently oppose accord. ---------------------------------------------------------- Sources: News agency reports Pictures: Associated Press, Newscom words 226