Iran Nuclear Talks: No Deal Yet

by Stephen Lendman

Talks continue as this is written. Sticking points remain. On Sunday, the Iranian Students News Agency (ISNA) quoted President Hassan Rohani saying:

"The country, people and the negotiating team have carried out their responsibilities towards the talks. Currently, we are very close to the peak (of talks), but there are still steps left to reach this peak. With the help of God, Iranian negotiators will emerge victorious from this difficult and complicated battle."

He stressed any deal depends on "complete" removal of sanctions on the same day.

Reports from Vienna suggest a provisional agreement is close - at the same time indicating unresolved issues remain. Whether they'll be papered over to claim success remains to be seen.

During a meeting with his Chinese counterpart (Foreign Minister Wang Yi), Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif said talks "should not be extended anymore, but we can carry on work as long as it is needed."

"We have reached a stage now that the other side should decide if it is seeking an agreement or pressure. We have said many times that agreement and pressure cannot come together and one of them should be chosen."

Deputy Iranian Foreign Minister/senior negotiator Seyed Abbas Araqchi expressed uncertainty about whether remaining differences can be resolved.

"The negotiations have reached the last breathtaking moments and there are still certain problems," he said. We cannot say that we have reached an agreement while the problems are still in place. Yet, I cannot promise that the problems will be resolved tonight or tomorrow night."

Iranian parliament Presiding Board senior member Mohammad Dehqan laid blame where it belongs saying:

"If the Americans accept the termination of sanctions, an agreement will be made but if they break promises and raise excessive demands similar to the past, the US administration will be responsible for the failure of the negotiations."

Previous articles explained how Washington negotiates - wanting things entirely its way, making unreasonable demands, raising the bar with news ones, reinterpreting issues agreed on - then breaching deals when reached, blaming others for its deceit.

Whatever comes out of current talks, if anything, US betrayal later on is virtually certain - negating everything accomplished, regressing to square one, while at the same time doing nothing to end decades of hostile relations with Iran.

Its officials know what they're up against - yet continue doing the right thing by negotiating in good faith, whatever the outcome.

Israel vows to go all-out to undermine a deal if reached. Hardline Foreign Ministry director general Dore Gold repeats the canard about consummating one facilitates Tehran's road to the bomb.

No evidence suggests it, now or earlier. Gold, like Netanyahu and other Israeli hardliners, basely says Iran has "global" hegemonic ambitions.

A nuclear deal will let Tehran develop a "substantial intercontinental ballistic missile force," he ludicrously claims.

When Netanyahu "stands up and attacks Iran, he’s not just defending Israel. He’s defending Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan and all the other Sunni countries," he blustered.

He repeats Big Lies about Iran wanting Israel destroyed - claims it continues developing nuclear weapons despite clear evidence proving otherwise. It supports terrorism. It's the region's leading existential threat.

Truth is polar opposite. Israel and America partner in each other's wars. They threaten world peace.

Hardline Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon said a "bad nuclear deal" may be imminent. It'll force the Jewish state to "defend itself, by itself."

Is he suggesting possible unilateral Israeli military action against Iran risking possible regional war forcing Washington to get involved?

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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