The Iran nuclear agreement cannot be destroyed by the incoming US administration, says a former International Atomic Energy Agency chief, despite president-elect Donald Trump's criticism of the deal during the presidential campaign.

Hans Blix believes Washington "can put obstacles in the way" but stressed, however, that the deal is backed by the entire UN Security Council, so ripping it up could prove very difficult.

Along the campaign trail, Trump issued a variety of statements about last year's pact, calling it "stupid," a "lopsided disgrace" and the "worst deal ever negotiated."

He also railed against its time-limited restrictions on Iran's enrichment of uranium and other nuclear activity, painting US and European concessions in often cartoonish hyperbole.

During the campaign, Trump also appeared to encourage the development of nuclear weapons by other allied states, however Blix believes this will change once he takes office.

"He will realise that if Japan were to move for nuclear weapons - and they could do so in a very short time if they wanted to - that the whole political situation and atmosphere in the Far East would be very, very different," he argued.

Stockholm - 10 November 2016

1. Various of former IAEA (the International Atomic Energy Agency) chief Hans Blix taking part in panel discussion in Sweden about small-arms control

2. Close-up on face of Blix

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Hans Blix, former IAEA chief:

"I think it would be very difficult for the US to extricate (itself) from that (Iran nuclear) agreement. And I think it was to the great credit of Obama and Hillary Clinton that they stood behind it. And I think it gives...if it were not for that agreement, there would be a greater risk that Iran might move towards nuclear weapons."

4. Cutaway

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Hans Blix, former IAEA chief:

"To tear it up (the nuclear agreement between Iran and world powers), I think would be very difficult. Because it is not just a bilateral agreement between the US and Iran. It's also Russia, it's China, it's UK and France, and it is the whole (UN) Security Council that stands behind it. And the UN Security Council have lifted the sanctions. The UN sanctions are no longer there, European sanctions are no longer there. Maybe the US under Trump would obstruct and that they would let their financial institutions to consider powers to prevent transactions in (US) dollars with Iran, so they can put obstacles in the way, but they cannot destroy the agreement."

6. Various cutaways

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Hans Blix, former IAEA chief:

"I think that he will recognise that the world is a lot more dangerous for the US and for everybody if there are more states that have nuclear weapons than less. Trump has made some statements that question this. He said well why shouldn't (the) Japanese have their weapons or South Koreans have their weapons. But I think that better advice and looking at the matter more closely, he will realise that if Japan were to move for nuclear weapons - and they could do so in a very short time if they wanted to - that the whole political situation and atmosphere in the Far East would be very, very different."

8. Cutaway

9. SOUNDBITE (English) Hans Blix, former IAEA chief:

"Now, one has to make some distinction between what politicians say in election campaigns and in other... And I think that he has been very careless in the election campaign. It could come out this way or it could come out that way. But once you are in an institution, there are many factors available to you. You have the big military establishment of the United States: they are not reckless. I may not always agree with them, certainly not, but they are not reckless."

10. Cutaway

11. SOUNDBITE (English) Hans Blix, former IAEA chief:

"We need a detente in the world in order to get back to climate. Whether that will happen under Trump, we don't know, he is a very touchy guy and maybe he is someone to fear that if you step on his toes he will touch the button (nuclear trigger). But he is also someone who thinks very freely, who is not wedded to old doctrines. And that could in some situations be an advantage. One has the impression that he is not keen on interventionism for instance. In that sense similar to Obama - Obama did not intervene in Libya, he did not intervene in Syria, he did not want to have a no-fly-zone in Syria, which Hillary (Clinton) wanted to have. So it's still open questions here."

12. Blix talking after interview

North Korea's ambassador to Britain said on Tuesday that his country has no interest in presumptive US Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump's offer to open nuclear talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

Ambassador Hyon Hak Bong said in London on Tuesday that Pyongyang views Trump's offer as an electoral ploy that is not serious.

Hyon said that "we see it as the dramatics of a popular actor," adding that US presidential candidates say a lot of things during a campaign but once they assume power they always adopt a hostile stance toward North Korea.

Trump said last week he is open to meeting with Kim Jong Un, which would represent a sharp alteration in US policy.

The Obama administration says it is willing to resume talks with North Korea but only if the North commits itself to the goal of abandoning its nuclear weapons program.

Hyon said North Korea needs its nuclear weapons for self-defence and to protect its sovereignty.

He said the "six-party talks" aimed at ending his country's nuclear weapons program through negotiations are "dead."

No sitting US president has met with the leader of North Korea.

North Korea's ambassador to Britain said on Tuesday that his country has no interest in presumptive US Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump's offer to open nuclear talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

Ambassador Hyon Hak Bong said in London on Tuesday that Pyongyang views Trump's offer as an electoral ploy that is not serious.

Hyon said that "we see it as the dramatics of a popular actor," adding that US presidential candidates say a lot of things during a campaign but once they assume power they always adopt a hostile stance toward North Korea.

Trump said last week he is open to meeting with Kim Jong Un, which would represent a sharp alteration in US policy.

The Obama administration says it is willing to resume talks with North Korea but only if the North commits itself to the goal of abandoning its nuclear weapons program.

Hyon said North Korea needs its nuclear weapons for self-defence and to protect its sovereignty.

He said the "six-party talks" aimed at ending his country's nuclear weapons program through negotiations are "dead."

No sitting US president has met with the leader of North Korea.

London - 24 May 2016

1. Various set up of North Korea's Ambassador to Britain Hyon Hak Bong

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Ambassador Hyon Hak Bong, North Korea's Ambassador to Britain:

"We know that he (Trump) indicated his intention, but we take it not as a meaningful one. We don't take it as a meaningful one. We see it as nothing but dramatics of a popular actor to create a juncture favourable to his election campaign."

3. Cutaway

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Ambassador Hyon Hak Bong, North Korea's Ambassador to Britain:

"Historically US candidates say this or that, a lot of things during the campaign but after resuming Presidency they prolong the existing anti DPR Korea policy to stifle our socialist system and to make pressure or sanctions. So, you know, we know them, that is why I characterise the remarks as an actor’s play."

5. Cutaway

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Ambassador Hyon Hak Bong, North Korea's Ambassador to Britain:

"Let me say dead. Six-party talks are dead. Everybody knows that, particularly Korean experts recognise that. Continued pressure, military, particularly nuclear threat by the United States including their sanctions against the DPR Korea's sovereign right to defend itself makes the six-party talks dead."

7. Cutaway

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Ambassador Hyon Hak Bong, North Korea's Ambassador to Britain:

“US hostile policy has pushed the DPR Korea into having nuclear weapons. So if we want to cure somebody's illness, we should find out the root cause of the illness. It’s the same. If nuclear weapons, our nuclear program or nuclear issue could be resolved, the root cause should be resolved first, that is the hostile policy and nuclear threat by the United States.”

9. Various cutaways

Republican presidential rivals and friends-for-now Donald Trump and Ted Cruz on Wednesday savaged the proposed nuclear agreement with Iran, calling it an incompetently negotiated deal that will cost "countless" American and Israeli lives and should be discarded by the next president.

"We are led by very, very stupid people," Trump, the GOP front-runner weighed in, at a midday rally on Capitol Hill. He called the deal "incompetent" and poised to fail in the fight against Islamic militants. "We will have so much winning if I get elected, that you may get bored with winning."

Cruz, who invited Trump to the event, said supporters of the deal will have blood on their hands.

The pairing at Wednesday's rally, sponsored by tea party and pro-Israel activists, is the product of what Trump acknowledged beforehand as "a little bit of a romance" at this early stage of the 2016 presidential race.

The two spoke as Congress debated the deal, which is designed to keep Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.

Republicans and Israel say Iran can't be trusted because its leaders want to annihilate the Jewish state.

Republican presidential rivals and friends-for-now Donald Trump and Ted Cruz on Wednesday savaged the proposed nuclear agreement with Iran, calling it an incompetently negotiated deal that will cost "countless" American and Israeli lives and should be discarded by the next president.

"We are led by very, very stupid people," Trump, the GOP front-runner weighed in, at a midday rally on Capitol Hill. He called the deal "incompetent" and poised to fail in the fight against Islamic militants. "We will have so much winning if I get elected, that you may get bored with winning."

Cruz, who invited Trump to the event, said supporters of the deal will have blood on their hands.

The pairing at Wednesday's rally, sponsored by tea party and pro-Israel activists, is the product of what Trump acknowledged beforehand as "a little bit of a romance" at this early stage of the 2016 presidential race.

The two spoke as Congress debated the deal, which is designed to keep Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.

Republicans and Israel say Iran can't be trusted because its leaders want to annihilate the Jewish state.

AP TELEVISION

Washington, DC - 9 September 2015

1. Donald Trump walking up to podium outside Capitol

2. Wide shot of Trump speaking

3. 1. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, (R) Presidential Candidate:

"I've been doing deals for a long time, I've been making lots of wonderful deals, great deals that's what I do. Never, ever in my life have I seen any transaction so incompetently negotiated as our deal with Iran and I mean never."

4. Cutaway of crowd

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, (R) Presidential Candidate:

"We are led by very, very stupid people. Very, very stupid people. We cannot let it continue. We are a country that owes 19 trillion dollars, we lose everywhere, we lose militarily, we can't beat ISIS. Give me a break, we can't beat anybody."

6. Sen. Ted Cruz walking up to podium

7. Wide shot of Cruz in front of Capitol

8. SOUNDBITE: (English) Sen. Ted Cruz, (R) Presidential Candidate:

"This Iranian nuclear deal is catastrophic. It is the single greatest national security threat to America."

9. Cutaway of crowd

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Ted Cruz, (R) Presidential Candidate:

"If Iran gets a nuclear weapon, the single greatest risk is they would take that nuclear weapon, they would put it on a ship anywhere in the Atlantic and they would fire it up, straight into the air, into the atmosphere, they would set off what's called an EMP - an electromagnetic pulse - it would take down the electrical grid on the entire eastern seaboard and kill tens of millions of Americans. We can stop that."

11. Wide of Cruz at podium

12. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Ted Cruz, (R) Presidential Candidate:

" if Senate Democrats decide that party loyalty matters more than national security. And if Republican leadership decides that a showboat is more important than stopping this deal, than the single biggest issue in 2016 will be stopping Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. And any commander in chief worthy of defending this nation should be prepared to stand up on January 20th, 2017 and rip to shreds this catastrophic deal. (applause)

13. Pan from Capitol dome to Cruz speaking

U.S. President Donald Trump is paying tribute to former First Lady Barbara Bush.

The president made the remarks at the start of a news conference at his Mar-a-Largo estate in Florida with visiting Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

The issue of upcoming talks with North Korea dominated early the comments made by Trump to reporters.

Trump is also pledging to help free Japanese citizens abducted and held captive by North Korea.

Trump said Wednesday during a joint news conference with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe that he's pushing to reduce the trade imbalance between the two countries and remove barriers to U.S. exports.

In his remarks, Abe said there should be "no reward" given to North Korea just because the reclusive country is responding to dialogue over its development of nuclear weapons.

Abe said that "maximum pressure should be maintained."

Abe and Trump are wrapping up two days of meetings at the president's Mar-a-Lago estate.

POOL

Palm Beach, Florida - 18 April 2018

1. Side, US President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe walk toward microphones

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, U.S. President:

"I want to begin today by expressing my deep condolences to the entire Bush family on the passing of former first lady Barbara Bush, a wonderful, wonderful person. For decades Barbara was a titan in American life. Her presence and character were engraved into America's identity. Her strength and toughness really embodied the spirit of our country and her warmth and devotion earned the admiration of an entire nation and indeed the entire world. She was a tireless champion for literacy. She was a fierce advocate for the American family. And she was a woman of proud patriotism and profound faith. Our hearts are saddened by her passing but our spirits are lifted by the memories of her goodness and her grace. She was a good person. Melania and I send our prayers to Barbara's husband of seventy three years. I'll never beat that record, President George H.W. Bush. To the surviving children Jeb and Neil and Marvin Dorothee and former President George W. Bush and to their many wonderful grandchildren and great grandchildren."

3. Cutaway news conference

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, U.S. President:

"As you know I will be meeting with Kim Jong Un in the coming weeks to discuss the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. Hopefully that meeting will be a great success and we're looking forward to it. It would be a tremendous thing for North Korea and a tremendous thing for the world. So, we will be doing everything possible to make it a worldwide success, not just for the United States or South Korea or North Korea or Japan but for the entire world."

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, U.S. President:

"Shinzo you have worked very hard along with us and all of our people and we thank you very much. And we're with you and you are a lot closer than we are but we're working on this together. Thank you very much."

6. Mid, Trump and Abe shake hands

7. Wide, news conference

8. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan:

"A year or so has passed since then, (the first Abe-Trump meeting) the situation surrounding North Korea due to the decisive decision by President Trump on the first ever US-North Korea summit is at a historical turning point. The past mistakes should never be repeated. On this point, President Trump and I were in full agreement. On the occasion of the 1994 framework agreement or the 2005 6-party talks agreement, North Korea committed to abandon nuclear weapons development but those promises were broken. And the effort of the international community to engage in dialogue were all entirely exploited to buy time to develop nuclear weapons and missiles. "

9. Side, news conference

10. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan:

"Just because North Korea is responding to dialogue, there should be no reward. Maximum pressure should be maintained and actual implementation of concrete actions towards denuclearizations will be demanded."

11. Mid, news conference

12. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan:

"We also agree to continue our effort towards the early resolution of the top priority matter of abduction. Just now, President Trump on this spot, here, has mentioned the return of abductees. Maximum effort will be made with a clear promise, just made here. We are deeply encouraged, Donald."

13. Cutaway reporters

U.S. President Donald Trump is paying tribute to former First Lady Barbara Bush.

The president made the remarks at the start of a news conference at his Mar-a-Largo estate in Florida with visiting Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

The issue of upcoming talks with North Korea dominated early the comments made by Trump to reporters.

Trump is also pledging to help free Japanese citizens abducted and held captive by North Korea.

Trump said Wednesday during a joint news conference with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe that he's pushing to reduce the trade imbalance between the two countries and remove barriers to U.S. exports.

In his remarks, Abe said there should be "no reward" given to North Korea just because the reclusive country is responding to dialogue over its development of nuclear weapons.

Abe said that "maximum pressure should be maintained."

Abe and Trump are wrapping up two days of meetings at the president's Mar-a-Lago estate.

POOL

Palm Beach, Florida - 18 April 2018

1. Side, US President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe walk toward microphones

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, U.S. President:

"I want to begin today by expressing my deep condolences to the entire Bush family on the passing of former first lady Barbara Bush, a wonderful, wonderful person. For decades Barbara was a titan in American life. Her presence and character were engraved into America's identity. Her strength and toughness really embodied the spirit of our country and her warmth and devotion earned the admiration of an entire nation and indeed the entire world. She was a tireless champion for literacy. She was a fierce advocate for the American family. And she was a woman of proud patriotism and profound faith. Our hearts are saddened by her passing but our spirits are lifted by the memories of her goodness and her grace. She was a good person. Melania and I send our prayers to Barbara's husband of seventy three years. I'll never beat that record, President George H.W. Bush. To the surviving children Jeb and Neil and Marvin Dorothee and former President George W. Bush and to their many wonderful grandchildren and great grandchildren."

3. Cutaway news conference

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, U.S. President:

"As you know I will be meeting with Kim Jong Un in the coming weeks to discuss the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. Hopefully that meeting will be a great success and we're looking forward to it. It would be a tremendous thing for North Korea and a tremendous thing for the world. So, we will be doing everything possible to make it a worldwide success, not just for the United States or South Korea or North Korea or Japan but for the entire world."

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, U.S. President:

"Shinzo you have worked very hard along with us and all of our people and we thank you very much. And we're with you and you are a lot closer than we are but we're working on this together. Thank you very much."

6. Mid, Trump and Abe shake hands

7. Wide, news conference

8. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan:

"A year or so has passed since then, (the first Abe-Trump meeting) the situation surrounding North Korea due to the decisive decision by President Trump on the first ever US-North Korea summit is at a historical turning point. The past mistakes should never be repeated. On this point, President Trump and I were in full agreement. On the occasion of the 1994 framework agreement or the 2005 6-party talks agreement, North Korea committed to abandon nuclear weapons development but those promises were broken. And the effort of the international community to engage in dialogue were all entirely exploited to buy time to develop nuclear weapons and missiles. "

9. Side, news conference

10. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan:

"Just because North Korea is responding to dialogue, there should be no reward. Maximum pressure should be maintained and actual implementation of concrete actions towards denuclearizations will be demanded."

11. Mid, news conference

12. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan:

"We also agree to continue our effort towards the early resolution of the top priority matter of abduction. Just now, President Trump on this spot, here, has mentioned the return of abductees. Maximum effort will be made with a clear promise, just made here. We are deeply encouraged, Donald."

13. Cutaway reporters

President Barack Obama says suggestions from people like Donald Trump that South Korea and Japan should develop nuclear weapons show a lack of understanding of the world.

He says they show a lack of knowledge about foreign policy, nuclear policy and the Korean Peninsula.

He was asked about the issue Friday night after Trump said Japan and South Korea should develop nuclear weapons as a deterrent to North Korea. The president said the U.S. doesn't want someone in the Oval Office who doesn't recognize the potential trouble in such a development.

Obama noted that Trump's comments came up during discussions with leaders at the nuclear summit in Washington. He said that even countries that are used to a "carnival atmosphere" in their politics want "sobriety and clarity" in U.S. elections.

The president was also asked about drone strikes and acknowledged Friday that "civilians were killed that shouldn't have been" in past U.S. drone strikes, but said the administration is now "very cautious" about striking where women or children are present.

President Barack Obama says suggestions from people like Donald Trump that South Korea and Japan should develop nuclear weapons show a lack of understanding of the world.

He says they show a lack of knowledge about foreign policy, nuclear policy and the Korean Peninsula.

He was asked about the issue Friday night after Trump said Japan and South Korea should develop nuclear weapons as a deterrent to North Korea. The president said the U.S. doesn't want someone in the Oval Office who doesn't recognize the potential trouble in such a development.

Obama noted that Trump's comments came up during discussions with leaders at the nuclear summit in Washington. He said that even countries that are used to a "carnival atmosphere" in their politics want "sobriety and clarity" in U.S. elections.

The president was also asked about drone strikes and acknowledged Friday that "civilians were killed that shouldn't have been" in past U.S. drone strikes, but said the administration is now "very cautious" about striking where women or children are present.

POOL

Washington - 1 April 2016

1. Wide of President Barack Obama walking toward podium

2. SOUNDBITE (English) President Barack Obama:

"With Japan's announcement today, we've now removed or secured all the highly enriched uranium and plutonium from more than 50 facilities in 30 countries. More than 3.8 tons, which is more than enough to create 150 nuclear weapons. That's material that will never fall into the hands of terrorists."

3. Cutaway of press conference

4. SOUNDBITE (English) President Barack Obama:

"So long as Iran is carrying out its end of the bargain, we think it's important for the world community to carry out our end of the bargain."

5. Cutaway of press conference

6. SOUNDBITE (English) President Barack Obama:

"Iran so far has followed the letter of the agreement. But the spirit of the agreement involves Iran also sending signals to the world community and businesses that it is not going to be engaging in a range of provocative actions that might scare business off."

7. Cutaway of press conference

8. SOUNDBITE (English) President Barack Obama, speaking about drone strikes:

"I think there's been, in the past, legitimate criticism that the architecture, the legal architecture, around the use of drone strikes or other kinetic strikes wasn't as precise as it should have been and there's no doubt that civilians were killed that shouldn't have been."

9. Reporter asking question about Donald Trump's comments regarding the Korean Peninsula and Japan

10. SOUNDBITE (English) President Barack Obama:

"They (Trump's comments) tell us that the person who made the statements doesn't know much about foreign policy or nuclear policy or the Korean peninsula or the world generally. It came up on the sidelines, I've said before that people pay attention to American elections."

11. Cutaway of press conference

12. SOUNDBITE (English) President Barack Obama:

"Even in those countries that are used to a carnival-atmosphere in their own politics want sobriety and clarity when it comes to U.S. elections, because they understand the President of the United States needs to know what's going on around the world and has to put in place the kinds of policies that lead not only to our security and prosperity but will have an impact on everybody else's prosperity."

13. Cutaway of press conference

14 . SOUNDBITE (English) President Barack Obama:

"Our alliance with Japan and the Republic of Korea is one of the foundations, one of the corner stones of our presence in the Asia-Pacific region, it has underwritten the peace and prosperity of that region. It has been an enormous boom to American commerce and American influence."

15. Cutaway of press conference

16 . SOUNDBITE (English) President Barack Obama:

"You don't mess with that. It is an investment that rests on the sacrifices that our men and women made back in World War II when they were fighting throughout the Pacific. It is because of their sacrifices and the wisdom that American foreign policy makers showed after World War II that we've been able to avoid catastrophe in those regions and we don't want somebody in the Oval Office who doesn't recognize how important that is."

17. Obama leaves stage

RESTRICTION SUMMARY: AP CLIENTS ONLY

SHOTLIST:

POOL - AP CLIENTS ONLY

Washington - 1 April 2016

1. Wide of President Barack Obama walking toward podium

2. SOUNDBITE (English) President Barack Obama:

"With Japan's announcement today, we've now removed or secured all the highly enriched uranium and plutonium from more than 50 facilities in 30 countries. More than 3.8 tons, which is more than enough to create 150 nuclear weapons. That's material that will never fall into the hands of terrorists."

3. Cutaway of press conference

4. SOUNDBITE (English) President Barack Obama:

"So long as Iran is carrying out its end of the bargain, we think it's important for the world community to carry out our end of the bargain."

5. Cutaway of press conference

6. SOUNDBITE (English) President Barack Obama:

"Iran so far has followed the letter of the agreement. But the spirit of the agreement involves Iran also sending signals to the world community and businesses that it is not going to be engaging in a range of provocative actions that might scare business off."

7. Cutaway of press conference

8. SOUNDBITE (English) President Barack Obama, speaking about drone strikes:

"I think there's been, in the past, legitimate criticism that the architecture, the legal architecture, around the use of drone strikes or other kinetic strikes wasn't as precise as it should have been and there's no doubt that civilians were killed that shouldn't have been."

9. Reporter asking question about Donald Trump's comments regarding the Korean Peninsula and Japan

10. SOUNDBITE (English) President Barack Obama:

"They (Trump's comments) tell us that the person who made the statements doesn't know much about foreign policy or nuclear policy or the Korean peninsula or the world generally. It came up on the sidelines, I've said before that people pay attention to American elections."

11. Cutaway of press conference

12. SOUNDBITE (English) President Barack Obama:

"Even in those countries that are used to a carnival-atmosphere in their own politics want sobriety and clarity when it comes to U.S. elections, because they understand the President of the United States needs to know what's going on around the world and has to put in place the kinds of policies that lead not only to our security and prosperity but will have an impact on everybody else's prosperity."

13. Cutaway of press conference

14 . SOUNDBITE (English) President Barack Obama:

"Our alliance with Japan and the Republic of Korea is one of the foundations, one of the corner stones of our presence in the Asia-Pacific region, it has underwritten the peace and prosperity of that region. It has been an enormous boom to American commerce and American influence."

15. Cutaway of press conference

16 . SOUNDBITE (English) President Barack Obama:

"You don't mess with that. It is an investment that rests on the sacrifices that our men and women made back in World War II when they were fighting throughout the Pacific. It is because of their sacrifices and the wisdom that American foreign policy makers showed after World War II that we've been able to avoid catastrophe in those regions and we don't want somebody in the Oval Office who doesn't recognize how important that is."

17. Obama leaves stage

STORYLINE:

President Barack Obama says suggestions from people like Donald Trump that South Korea and Japan should develop nuclear weapons show a lack of understanding of the world.

He says they show a lack of knowledge about foreign policy, nuclear policy and the Korean Peninsula.

He was asked about the issue Friday night after Trump said Japan and South Korea should develop nuclear weapons as a deterrent to North Korea. The president said the U.S. doesn't want someone in the Oval Office who doesn't recognize the potential trouble in such a development.

Obama noted that Trump's comments came up during discussions with leaders at the nuclear summit in Washington. He said that even countries that are used to a "carnival atmosphere" in their politics want "sobriety and clarity" in U.S. elections.

The president was also asked about drone strikes and acknowledged Friday that "civilians were killed that shouldn't have been" in past U.S. drone strikes, but said the administration is now "very cautious" about striking where women or children are present.

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FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: apus037963

Republican presidential rivals and friends-for-now Donald Trump and Ted Cruz on Wednesday savaged the proposed nuclear agreement with Iran, calling it an incompetently negotiated deal that will cost "countless" American and Israeli lives and should be discarded by the next president.

"We are led by very, very stupid people," Trump, the GOP front-runner weighed in, at a midday rally on Capitol Hill. He called the deal "incompetent" and poised to fail in the fight against Islamic militants. "We will have so much winning if I get elected, that you may get bored with winning."

Cruz, who invited Trump to the event, said supporters of the deal will have blood on their hands.

The pairing at Wednesday's rally, sponsored by tea party and pro-Israel activists, is the product of what Trump acknowledged beforehand as "a little bit of a romance" at this early stage of the 2016 presidential race.

The two spoke as Congress debated the deal, which is designed to keep Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.

Republicans and Israel say Iran can't be trusted because its leaders want to annihilate the Jewish state.

FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: apus037963

Republican presidential rivals and friends-for-now Donald Trump and Ted Cruz on Wednesday savaged the proposed nuclear agreement with Iran, calling it an incompetently negotiated deal that will cost "countless" American and Israeli lives and should be discarded by the next president.

"We are led by very, very stupid people," Trump, the GOP front-runner weighed in, at a midday rally on Capitol Hill. He called the deal "incompetent" and poised to fail in the fight against Islamic militants. "We will have so much winning if I get elected, that you may get bored with winning."

Cruz, who invited Trump to the event, said supporters of the deal will have blood on their hands.

The pairing at Wednesday's rally, sponsored by tea party and pro-Israel activists, is the product of what Trump acknowledged beforehand as "a little bit of a romance" at this early stage of the 2016 presidential race.

The two spoke as Congress debated the deal, which is designed to keep Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.

Republicans and Israel say Iran can't be trusted because its leaders want to annihilate the Jewish state.

AP TELEVISION

Washington, DC - 9 September 2015

++SOUNDBITE SEPARATED BY WHITE FLASHES++

1. SOUNDBITE: (English) Sen. Ted Cruz, (R) Presidential Candidate:

"This Iranian nuclear deal is catastrophic. It is the single greatest national security threat facing America."

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Ted Cruz, (R) Presidential Candidate:

"It's worth remembering that if this deal goes through, we know to an absolute certainty, people will die. Americans will die, Israelis will die, Europeans will die."

3. Wide of crowd

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Ted Cruz, (R) Presidential Candidate:

"If Senate Democrats decide that party loyalty matters more than national security. And if Republican leadership decides that a show vote is more important than stopping this deal, than the single most important issue in 2016 will be stopping Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. And any commander in chief worthy of defending this nation should be prepared to stand up on January 20th, 2017 and rip to shreds this catastrophic deal." (Applause)