Deal in Iran talks imminent

[Botany]

Source: Washington Post

By Carol Morello July 13 at 4:26 AM Follow @CMorelloWP

VIENNA – Negotiators at the Iran nuclear talks were poised Monday to put the finishing touches on a sweeping agreement imposing restrictions on Iran’s nuclear program and lifting debilitating sanctions.

Secretary of State John F. Kerry arrived early in the morning at the Coburg Palace Hotel, where the talks are being held and where the Iranian delegation is staying. It was not clear exactly when he might meet with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi arrived in Vienna, a strong indication that the six world powers negotiating with Iran – the United States, Britain, France, Russia, China and Germany – are preparing to make a major announcement.

“The foreign ministers are gathered to bring the negotiations to a conclusion,” he said, according to his official translator. “We believe there could not be further delay.”

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/deal-in-iran-talks-imminent/2015/07/13/88656cfe-0952-44bd-9fe5-b71e7844bf43_story.html

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Nice to have grown ups doing our work .... Sec. Kerry and Sec. of Energy Moniz*
both are credits to America and I am so proud of them.


Energy Secretary: Iran Deal Blocks All Paths Toward Nuclear Bomb.
http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2015/04/03/397322748/energy-secretary-iran-deal-blocks-all-paths-toward-nuclear-bomb

[iandhr]

1. Excellent

[RKP5637]

2. Could you see any of the republican presidential hopefuls pulling this off. Imagine

Trump as president. He'd have us in WW III.

[Botany]

4. Sec. Moniz who taught @ M.I.T. found out his Iranian counter part had just had ....

.... his first grandchild and had also attended M.I.T. too so Sec. Moniz got some
baby gear w/the M.I.T. logo on them and this broke the ice and the 2 scientists
worked to get a good deal done.

[RKP5637]

5. Interesting! Thanks! n/t

[Botany]

7. Kerry got the talks going by getting a book on Frederick Law Olmsted (designed central park)

..... and giving it to a Sr. Iranian diplomat who liked architecture when they met in Paris
@ a diplomatic function. The man sent Sec. Kerry a thank you letter and asked if he would
like to get together and talk about things in the future to which Kerry said yes.


Let's hear it for grown ups!

[DCBob]

3. Fantastic!

The idiot rethugs will call it appeasement.

[RKP5637]

6. And no doubt a sign of weakness, they're surely lining up their rhetoric now and

tuning their dog whistles.

[maxrandb]

10. They already are

They are specifically pulling out a statement from the Iranians where they say they "got everything they wanted". as if they are going to put out an honest statement, and not one that says they got the P5+1 to bow before them like the "infidels they are".

It does make me question the patriotism of the idiot rethugs though. Why would they take Iran's side, or put any credence into what they say? Why do they hate 'Murika?

I think we should tell the right-wingers that "if they don't like America, they are welcome to leave"

[davidpdx]

8. Cuba and Iran in the same year

Who'd of thought?

[Botany]

9. this guy?

[davidpdx]

11. Yep

I have to wonder what else he has up his sleeve for us before the end of his term.

[Surya Gayatri]

12. Unfortunately, it's not time to break out the champagne and fireworks yet.

See here:

From AP less than an hour ago.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10141144749

Jul 13, 10:20 AM (ET) VIENNA (AP) — Disputes over attempts to probe Tehran's alleged work on nuclear weapons unexpectedly persisted Monday, diplomats said, threatening plans to wrap up an Iran nuclear deal by midnight — the latest in a series of deadlines for the negotiations.

The diplomats said at least two other issues still needed final agreement: Iranian demands that a U.N. arms embargo be lifted and that any U.N. Security Council resolution approving the nuclear deal no longer describe Iran's nuclear activities as illegal. They demanded anonymity because they are not authorized to discuss the negotiations publicly.


Tents of TV crews stand in front of Coburg where closed-door nuclear talks with Iran continue in Vienna, Austria, Monday, July 13, 2015.

With few signs that Iranian or U.S. negotiators were prepared to give ground, the high-stakes game of brinksmanship looked set to force a fourth extension of talks since the current round began 17 days ago.

A temporary nuclear deal between world powers and Iran is set to expire at midnight Monday Vienna time (6 p.m. EDT), and diplomats had hoped to complete and announce a final agreement before day's end. But they warned there was no guarantee, and some said the talks could stretch into Tuesday despite little appetite from anyone for another extension.

Important:

Grim-faced foreign ministers from the six countries negotiating with Iran declined to answer questions about another possible prolongation of discussions as they gathered for a group meeting at the 19th-century Viennese palace hosting the talks.

Some high level brinkmanship going on here. Imagine the tension around that table...