Deadlock in Vienna

by Stephen Lendman

Washington obstructionism leaves Iran nuclear talks deadlocked as another deadline approaches for resolving remaining issues. Years of standoff persist.

Obama wants a one-way deal on his terms - demanding unreasonable Iranian concessions, raising the bar continually for more, wanting Iran subjugated and isolated as part of a longterm plan to replace its government with a US-controlled puppet regime letting Big Oil plunder its hydrocarbon resources.

Fars News cited an informed source close to negotiations saying "serious" issues remain unresolved.

Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif said "(n)othing is definite yet. Some differences are still there, but we are trying."

An unnamed Iranian negotiator said "70 percent of the technical annex to the final nuclear deal between Tehran and the six major world powers has been drafted."

It's one of five annexes to a final agreement if reached. It covers nuclear R & D, Fordo's underground facility, the Arak heavy water reactor and types of centrifuges for stable isotopes production.

"According to the technical annex, all the nuclear activities of Iran will continue," the Iranian negotiator said. At the same time, a final deal remains elusive.

Among other unresolved issues, Fars News said "there are four (enriched uranium stockpile) options on the table which are still under discussion, including (its) dilution…exchanging it with raw uranium plus the enrichment costs, and selling the excess fuel."

At the same time, US-installed IAEA director general Yukiya Amano falsely alleges possible military dimensions (PMD) to Tehran's peaceful nuclear program - despite no evidence suggesting it. Iran justifiably calls his claims baseless.

White House press secretary Josh Earnest said Tuesday's deadline could "slip." Last weekend, John Kerry said "(w)e are not where we need to be on several of the most difficult issues. This negotiation could go either way."

He indicated Washington is prepared to walk away if its unreasonable demands aren't met. Congress has 30 days to decide up or down if a final deal is reached by July 9 - 60 days if later, either way a deal killer.

Given enormous Israeli Lobby pressure and Washington's hardline stand, resolving things fairly and equitably for Iran seems virtually nil - besides America's odious history of breaching deals reached (including by reinterpreting them) and blaming others for reneging.

Iran nuclear talks have continued on and off for over a decade without resolution - despite knowing its program is peaceful.

At issue is its sovereign independence, Washington wanting it replaced with US-controlled stooge governance, and Israel wanting its main regional rival eliminated.

On the one hand, nuclear talks are red herring cover for Washington's long sought regime change. On the other, giving Congress final say on any deal reached assures undermining whatever may be consummated.

Chances for resolving things equitably with Iran and ending decades of hostility are virtually nil. What follows remains to be seen. Expect nothing positive.

Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.

His new book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III."

http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html

Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com.

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