In a joint statement, the foreign ministers of the ASEAN countries along with Australia, India, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea welcomed the deal with Iran struck last month as an "important resolution" that could resolve one of the world's most pressing concerns if it is adhered to. The statement was issued on the final day of a Southeast Asian regional security forum in Malaysia.
ASEAN includes Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam. Also signing the statement were China, Russia and the United States, which were involved in negotiating the agreement with Iran.
The public display of Asian support for the deal comes as President Barack Obama tries to convince skeptical U.S. lawmakers to back the accord, which would place curbs on Iran's nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief. On Wednesday, Obama delivered a speech in Washington defending the agreement and challenging opponents to come up with a viable alternative. He accused critics of "selling a fantasy" and warned Congress that blocking the accord would damage American credibility and increase the likelihood of more war in the Middle East.
Shortly before the joint ASEAN statement was released, Kerry met in Kuala Lumpur with Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida as Japan and others marked the 70th anniversary of the Aug, 6, 1945 nuclear blast in Hiroshima. Kerry said the occasion was a "very, very powerful reminder" of the impact of war that also demonstrated the importance of the Iran deal.