President Obama’s choice to be the next secretary of state said Thursday that Iran must comply with inspections of its nuclear facilities. Massachusetts Senator John Kerry testified before Congress as part of the process to confirm his appointment.

According to Voice of America, there is broad bipartisan support for Senator Kerry’s nomination, “so the Senate hearing was less about him getting the job and more about what he will do with it.“

Kerry said that the first priority for U.S. diplomacy is ending the country’s domestic budget uncertainty.

“It is hard to tell the leadership of a number of countries that they have to deal with the IMF, balance their budget and create economic order where there is none if we do not provide it for ourselves,” he said.

Kerry added that it is vital for the United States to confront immediate and dangerous challenges including terrorism and the threat from Iran’s nuclear program.

“We will do what we must do to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon,” he said. “And I repeat here today: Our policy is not containment, it is prevention, and the clock is ticking on our efforts to secure responsible compliance.”

Kerry added that as secretary of state, he will work to give diplomacy every effort to succeed, but he said no one should mistake the U.S. resolve to reduce Iran’s nuclear threat.