A sweet deal with Iran or surrender? Your Say

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The deal reached Sunday to freeze Iran's nuclear program is at risk because of a bill being considered in Congress that would impose sanctions if talks failed. Comments from Facebook are edited for clarity and grammar:

Do sanctions work?

The only thing other countries respect is the threat of a big stick, as Teddy Roosevelt said.

— Tim Webb

Just a word of experience from when I lived in South Africa during apartheid: Sanctions made the government stronger, and did nothing for the people. President Reagan's policy of "constructive engagement" could have worked out, had it been conducted better. Constructive engagement with the people of Iran, and with their authoritarian government, has potential if we take lessons from the past.

— Theodosius Mandelbrot II

Iran is ruled by religious extremists. No religious extremist person, group or country can be trusted. Keep sanctions in place and, in fact, strengthen them.

— Damian Hart

Slow progress

This deal is a win-win for the United States. This deal provides extremely meager relief to Iran, perhaps just enough to keep a working-class rebellion at bay.

— Anton Batey

Only a fool would believe that we are moving toward peace with Iran, a supporter of terrorists. Once Iranians have a nuclear bomb, and they will with the weakness we have shown for years in dealing with them, then the real problems begin.

— Sal Maggiore

Audience matters

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said the deal was a "surrender of the big powers before the great Iranian nation." After that comment, there should be no relief from sanctions.

— Robert Griner

What would you expect Rouhani to say to his constituents? He needs to pander to his flock just as our leaders need to pander to theirs.

— Rich Barnes

Iran and Rouhani don't want the U.S. to invade; this is all talk. Everyone in the region saw what happened to Saddam Hussein and doesn't want it to happen to them. They saw Saddam go from a power to being hanged by his own people.

— Nick Schooler

I'm not sure I like this deal, but it is not unusual for both sides to claim victory in such a situation, especially considering that we can't afford another war in regard to financial and military resources.

— Bruce Mort

Letter to the editor:

President Obama easing sanctions and delaying further sanctions in his six-month agreement with Iran over nuclear inspections is a deal with the devil. Indeed, Iran has a long history of misusing diplomacy to buy time to further its devious activities in gaining more power in the region.

Iran's nuclear development is much more dangerous than its previous assaults on Israel, and its advancement of power in Iraq, Syria and other Mideast nations. Clearly, a nuclear armed Iran would work toward the annihilation of Israel.

Easing sanctions on Iran and threatening to veto increased sanctions on Iran by Congress is naive.

Iran's false promise to restrict uranium enrichment and allow inspections will result in Iran developing a nuclear weapon. Israel knows it and will not allow Iran to do it. All Obama will accomplish will be an attack on Iran by Israel, the proliferation of war in the region, and increased national and global security threats.

Daniel B. Jeffs; Apple Valley, Calif.