Iran was always going to be one of the main stumbling blocks facing Barack Obama when he entered the White House in 2008.<br /><br />This weekend his decision to engage with Tehran appears to have succeeded where every US president’s approach since Jimmy Carter has failed.<br /><br />“Today that diplomacy opened up a new path toward a world that is more secure, a future in which we can verify that Iran’s nuclear programme is peaceful and that it can not build a nuclear weapon.<br /><br />The United States and our friends and allies have agreed to provide Iran with modest relief while continuing to apply our toughest sanctions.,” he said, but added a warning. <br /><br />“If Iran does not fully meet its commitments during this six-month <br />phase, we will turn off the relief and rachet up the pressure.”
