U.S. pessimism sets in over Iran nuclear talks

[bananas]

Source: Los Angeles Times

Gloom over U.S.-Iran talks stems from a growing realization of what each side much give up.

Three weeks after President Obama hailed a landmark deal to suspend most of Iran's nuclear program for the next six months, the mood among U.S. officials about the next round of negotiations has shifted from elated to somber, even gloomy.

"I wouldn't say (chances of success are) more than 50-50," Obama said last week. U.S. officials are "very skeptical" that Iran will accept Western demands, said his lead negotiator, Wendy R. Sherman.

The shift, officials say, is the result of a growing recognition of the compromises each side must make to resolve the decade-old impasse over Western suspicion that Iran will someday try to build nuclear weapons and the Iranian demand that the sanctions crippling its economy be lifted.

Problems already have emerged. Technical talks in Vienna aimed at implementing the initial deal stopped Thursday when Iranian negotiators unexpectedly flew back to Tehran, reportedly in response to the Obama administration's decision to expand its blacklist of foreign companies and individuals who have done business with Iran in violation of sanctions.

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Read more: http://www.latimes.com/world/la-fg-iran-deal-20131218,0,7670834.story

[DJ13]

1. It looks like the neocons (in both parties) are influencing the administration's positions

Not good.

[totodeinhere]

2. Plus there probably is some blow back from hardliners in Iran who are

also opposed to this compromise.

[bananas]

3. In Iran, neocons would be considered moderates

The official name of Iran is "The Islamic Republic of Iran".
It's an ultra-conservative theocracy run by the Supreme Leader.
The president is just a figurehead.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supreme_Leader_of_Iran

The Supreme Leader of Iran (Persian: ولی فقیه ایران?, vali-e faghih-e iran,[1] lit. Guardian Jurist of Iran, or رهبر انقلاب, rahbar-e enghelab,[2] lit. Leader of the Revolution) is the head of state and highest ranking political and religious authority in the Islamic Republic of Iran. The post was established by the constitution in accordance with the concept of Guardianship of the Islamic Jurists.[3] The title "Supreme" Leader (Persian: ولی فقیه, vali-e faghih) is often used as a sign of respect; however, this terminology is not found in the constitution of Iran, which simply referred to the "Leader" (rahbar).

The leader is more powerful than the President of Iran and appoints the heads of many powerful posts in the military, the civil government, and the judiciary.[4] Originally Iran's constitution stated that the Leader must be a Marja'-e taqlid, the highest ranking cleric and authority on religious laws in Usuli Twelver Shia Islam. However in 1989, the constitution was amended to require simply Islamic "scholarship" of the leader, i.e. the leader could be a lower ranking cleric.[5][6]

In its history, the Islamic Republic has had two Supreme Leaders: Ruhollah Khomeini, who held the position from 1979 until his death in 1989, and Sayyed Ali Khamenei, who has held the position since Khomeini's death.

[bananas]

5. Nuclear proliferation has long been a priority for Obama since college

That's why he was unanimously awareded the Nobel Prize - to encourage him to make efforts on this as president.

It's also long been a priority for his John Holdren - which is probably why Obama selected him as Science Advisor.

This has nothing to do with neocons - nuclear proliferation has long been a priority among liberals.

[Comrade Grumpy]

4. What kind of US diplomacy is this? Get a tentative agreement, then slap on more sanctions.

What did they expect the Iranians to do?