Iran talks hit final stage but deal remains elusive

[Surya Gayatri]

Source: AP News - excite

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.

Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20150713/iran-nuclear_talks-e8f94b0b78.html

---

Things look stalled again. Let's hope it's just a last minute hiccup and that they'll get back on track.

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...

[Abouttime]

1. So thankful for our President

This should earn him and SOS Kerry a Nobel Peace Prize.
Bringing the situation with Iran to a peaceful conclusion will be one of President Obamas top foreign policy accomplishments.
Few would have imagined in 2008 that 7 years later we would be peacefully sitting with Iran at the negotiating table. Thanks to the leadership of our President and Secretary Clinton, along with her and Secretary Kerry's diplomatic skills, we are looking at a future of peace rather than war in the Middle East. Israel has been neutered, there is no way they will attack Iran as Iran will now be our ally.
This is a game changer folks.

[Surya Gayatri]

2. Major game changer if they can get it done...

"...one of President Obamas top foreign policy accomplishments...thanks to the leadership of our President and Secretary Clinton, along with her and Secretary Kerry's diplomatic skills"

[karynnj]

4. I have a problem with that quote in that leadership was shown by Kerry in addition to Obama, not HRC

While it is true that the effort began when she was Secretary, the person who worked to get the back channel for Obama in Oman -- was Kerry, then chair of SFRC. It is true, that once that was done, a key HRC aide, Jake Sullivan with William Burns were the people who secretly spoke to the Iranians -- however, he was then reporting to Biden and it was after HRC left. What is true, is that she was involved in early discussions. She has been extremely cautious at every turn in agreeing with anything done. Obama took a major risk with something that could still fail. Kerry has made an exceptional commitment to this and he personally has taken the risk of failing.
If it works, the triumph is Obama's . In fact the second Secretary who deserves major credit is Moniz.

I hope that HRC will help by supporting it. That would be an important contribution.

[Elmer S. E. Dump]

3. Iran will be our ally?

Iran and the US will not be allies. It's possible they will no longer see us as their mortal enemies, but in any case, that will take some time + normal diplomatic relations.

[karynnj]

5. Not everything is about Hillary

It is strange that you attribute the leadership to BOTH Obama and HRC -- when only he was President. Then, in speaking of diplomatic skills, it is almost as if she gets more credit than Kerry with Kerry not included for leadership while she is and then listed after her -- where she personally did very little. (I know she was Secretary when the opening started -- and I know that the SFRC chair Kerry went to Oman on that mission for Obama. )

I have no problem with her getting credit proportional to what she did, but in fact, she was not even very supportive when they got the interim deal and she has not seemed to do much to get support.

If this happens, it is a major game changer and the Secretary of State who gets credit for the diplomacy is the one who took the risk and has spent DAYS adding up to months working on this. As to leadership, the President ALWAYS gets the credit - and HRC was not the President - only Obama was.

In fact, if they get a deal, Hillary's biggest role could be to loudly and clearly defend it and promote it to Congress.