US Obstructing Iran Nuclear Deal

by Stephen Lendman

Talks post-Lausanne's preliminary agreement were supposed to conclude by June 30 - then July 7, now July 13 or perhaps never.

Israel and its US Lobby reject any deal. Congress is amenable to terms no responsible governments would accept.

Obama wants Iranian subjugation, not a fair and equitable agreement all negotiating countries can accept - one that ends all sanctions straightaway, maintains all sovereign Iranian rights, and at least takes an important step toward normalizing Iranian-Western relations remaining unjustifiably hostile.

On Thursday, Western media reported diplomatic sources close to talks indicating they may be extended to July 13. Sticking points remain unresolved.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov calls them surmountable. He said Russia favors "lifting the (arms) embargo as soon as possible…"

Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov compared current stage talks with climbing Mount Everest - can be done but not easily. He called ongoing negotiations "hard and time-consuming."

Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif said "(t)here is growing acknowledgment that attempting to coerce a proud civilization into submission only leads to further conflict, resentment and hostility."

When nuclear talks began years earlier, "Iran had less than 200 centrifuges; today, it has 20,000. And so, my counterparts have rightfully opted for the negotiating table. But they still need to make the critical choice between an agreement and coercion."

US practice is often the latter - longstanding with Iran for 36 years with no indication of softening. Tehran wants any final deal reached, if any, announced with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov present.

Obama said he won't accept a weak and unenforceable one - code language for Iranian capitulation to US demands. Lavrov is currently in Ufa, Russia attending the BRICS summit. He'll return to Vienna where talks are held if warranted.

Iranian President Hassan Rohani said "(n)egotiations…are at a sensitive stage, and the Islamic Republic of Iran is preparing for post-negotiations and post-sanctions" - provided a deal is consummated which remains very much up for grabs.

Talk about a possible Thursday one sounds more like wishful thinking than reality. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister/senior negotiator Seyyed Abbas Araqchi called 90% of media speculations "untrue…in pursuit of special objectives and for psychological warfare."

"(W)hen the job is done through its correct path, it will be announced," he said. They'll be no deal if Washington remains hardline, he explained.

Removing sanctions remains a sticking point despite earlier reports about it being resolved. Tehran "wants all sanctions remove," said Araqchi. "The US cannot keep the sanctions and reach a deal with Iran."

Washington needs to abandon its longtime hostile approach and come to terms responsibly with Tehran. Important differences remain - whether resolvable remains to be seen.

It depends on whether Obama wants a deal or not on equitable terms. Remaining hardline to get his way isn't encouraging.

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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