奥巴马为伊朗核协议辩护

U.S. President Barack Obama has defended the nuclear deal world powers struck with Iran, saying it is the "right thing" for security.

Israeli officials and some members of Congress have criticized the agreement, saying it allows Iran to keep too much of its nuclear program intact while offering too much in sanctions relief.

Mr. Obama said late Monday in Los Angeles that even after the agreement, all options remain on the table for ensuring that Iran does not possess a nuclear weapon.

Earlier in San Francisco, the president hailed the pact as the first time progress on Iran's nuclear program has been halted in a decade, and stressed the need for continuing diplomatic efforts and not committing to "an endless cycle of conflict."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is sending a national security team to Washington in the coming days to consult with the Obama administration on a permanent resolution to the Iranian nuclear dispute.