Obama Says Critics Of Iran Deal Are Either 'Ideological' Or 'Illogical'

President Obama is facing deep skepticism in Congress, which votes next month on whether to disapprove the nuclear deal with Iran. The president contends that the public will better appreciate the deal in the years after it has taken effect.

NPR's Steve Inskeep spoke with Obama about the deal in an interview that will air Tuesday and Wednesday on Morning Edition. The full video and transcript are now available here, on NPR.org.

In a speech last week, the president warned of the consequences of failure if Congress were to reject the deal, and how the world could look without it.

In his interview with NPR, the president acknowledged that some of the criticisms of the deal are true, especially the temporary nature of some of the restrictions on Iran's nuclear program.

But Obama also spoke strongly of his critics, saying they were either "ideological" or "illogical." Many Republicans as well as some prominent Democrats, including Sen. Chuck Schumer and Rep. Eliot Engel of New York, have said they will vote against the deal.

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