Barack Obama said that a prior agreement had been in place, based on assessments from the international intelligence community—including Israeli and U.S. sources—that Iran had pledged not to pursue nuclear weapons. He argued that the agreement was functioning, but Iran’s exit from it allowed the country to expand its nuclear capacity. Obama added that the decision cost billions of dollars, placed heavy pressure on the Iranian military, and caused human casualties, ultimately returning the situation to its pre‑agreement state or worse. He also referenced a cease‑fire agreement that provided a 60‑day window to draft a plan addressing the nuclear issue, though the details remain unclear.