Protesters gathered Sunday for a Stop Iran Now Rally in Balboa Park, one of many rallies held across the country since President Barack Obama announced the Iran Nuclear Deal earlier this month.
The historic deal allows Iran to keep its nuclear program for peaceful purposes while easing economic sanctions.
Activists waved American and Israeli flags while holding up signs with sentiments like “Impeach Obama,” “Iran is the world sponsor of Terrorism. Imagine Them With Nukes,” and “Defund ISIS.”
“The fact that Iran is the foremost terrorist nation in the entire world, those are our main concerns,” said Sara Schoonmaker, associate director of Stand With US in San Diego, the organization sponsoring the rally.
“This doesn’t help stop Iran from getting a nuclear weapon. This gives them the fast-track to get a nuclear weapon,” she said.
Despite the protests, many feel the agreement is a step in the right direction.
"I feel very positive about this deal…It’s a win-win situation for both nations,” said Bita Hamidi an immigration attorney in San Diego. Born in Iran, Hamidi moved to the US as a child when the Revolution started in Iran.
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She says President Rouhani campaigned on the promise he would pursue peaceful negotiations with the U.S.
“We’re happy as Iranians and as an Iranian-American that the threat of war at least for now does not exist,” Hamidi said.
Both sides can agree on one thing – Iran should not have a nuclear weapon.
Congress has 60 days to review the agreement. The deal will take effect unless Congress blocks it, which GOP leaders who control the House and Senate hope to do.
President Obama has promised to veto any effort to block the deal from taking effect, and the administration is looking for enough votes to keep Republicans from overriding a veto.
