[As the old saying goes, there is many a slip between the cup and the lip. And there is no deal, till there is a deal.
Still, one cannot but feel cautiously optimistic.] I/III. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-31999158 21 March 2015 Last updated at 19:45 Iran nuclear talks: Deal can be reached, says Rouhani Mr Rouhani said "shared points of view" had emerged in the latest round of talks Iran's President Hassan Rouhani says that progress made in nuclear talks means a final deal can be reached. "There is nothing that cannot be resolved," although some differences still remain, Iranian state media quoted him as saying. US Secretary of State John Kerry also said that "substantial progress" had been made in the talks. Six world powers are negotiating a deal with Iran aimed at limiting its nuclear activity, with a late March deadline. Iran insists its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes but world powers fear it has military ambitions. 'Intensive verification' Mr Rouhani said that in the current round of talks in Lausanne, Switzerland, "shared points of view emerged in some of the areas where there had been a difference of opinion". They could become "a foundation for a final agreement", he said, according to state news agency Irna. line Analysis: Emily Buchanan, BBC world affairs correspondent The stakes are high for all sides and there are major sticking points, but still an outline agreement in 10 days' time looks possible. For Iran's leaders, ruling a country creaking under the weight of sanctions, the prospect of an economic revival is tantalisingly close. But they must not be seen to lose face to the West. For US President Barack Obama, a "historic" deal would be a foreign policy triumph. Without one, the pressure could grow from Israel and from Republicans in Congress for military action against Iran. For the EU, there would also be a "diplomatic dividend" and more trade. But the French do not want to rush things. They strongly oppose any weak agreement that might let Iran develop nuclear weapons in the future. line Speaking separately in Lausanne, Mr Kerry said "genuine progress" had been made, although "important gaps" remained. The US wanted "a comprehensive and durable agreement... whose implementation is not based on trust, but based on intensive verification", Mr Kerry said. Later on Saturday, Mr Kerry travelled to London to meet his counterparts from the UK, Germany and France. They were to discuss their negotiating position and try to resolve any sticking points before talks continue next week in Switzerland. UK Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said after the talks that the parties agreed substantial progress had been made in the nuclear talks. Iran has been in talks with the so-called P5+1 - the US, UK, France, China and Russia plus Germany - who want it to scale back sensitive nuclear activities to ensure that it cannot develop a nuclear weapon. Jump media playerMedia player helpOut of media player. Press enter to return or tab to continue. President Obama: "Together, we have to speak up for the future we seek" In return, the world powers have offered to lift sanctions that have crippled Iran's economy. Both sides have set themselves deadlines of 31 March for a political framework agreement and 30 June for a final deal. According to unnamed officials talking to the Associated Press news agency, the deal being discussed would commit Tehran to a 40% cut in the number of machines it could use to make an atomic bomb. In return, economic sanctions would be eased and a UN embargo on conventional arms would be partially lifted. 'Arrogant powers' On Friday, US President Barack Obama said in a video message to the Iranian people that there was "an historic opportunity to resolve this issue peacefully". But in a reminder of more hardline attitudes within the Iranian leadership, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei reacted by warning against submitting to foreign demands in order to achieve economic growth. Sticking points in the nuclear talks are thought to include the pace at which sanctions would be lifted, how long the deal will last and how much of Iran's nuclear facilities will be open to inspection. The UN Security Council has adopted six resolutions since 2006 requiring Iran to stop enriching uranium, with sanctions to persuade Iran to comply. The US and EU have imposed additional sanctions on Iranian oil exports and banks since 2012, hitting Iran's oil revenue badly. II/III. http://www.i24news.tv/en/news/international/65196-150322-us-can-prevent-iran-developing-nuclear-bomb-cia-director PUBLISHED March 22nd 2015 09:47pm Israeli delegation travels to France to discuss Iran nuclear deal Last-ditch effort to influence talks comes as CIA chief vows US can prevent Iran developing nuclear weapons An Israeli delegation of senior officials traveled to Paris Sunday to discuss the nuclear deal taking shape between Iran and world powers, as reports of differences between France and the US over negotiating strategy emerged over the weekend. The delegation, which includes Strategic and Intelligence Affairs Minister Yuval Steinitz, National Security Adviser Yossi Cohen and other senior figures, is slated to meet with French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius as well as members of the French negotiating team participating in the Iran talks on Monday. "This is an effort to prevent a [nuclear] deal that is bad and full of loopholes, or at least ... to succeed in closing or changing some of these loopholes," Steinitz told Israel Radio. Abir Sultan (POOL/AFP) Abir Sultan (POOL/AFP) "Benjamin Netanyahu (centre), flanked by Intelligence Minister Yuval Steinitz (left) and Cabinet Secretary Avichai Mendelblit at the weekly cabinet meeting in his Jerusalem office on February 15, 2015" The last-ditch effort by Israel to influence the outcome of the talks comes just two days before the final round of negotiations, scheduled to take place on Wednesday in Switzerland. Kerry said Saturday that world powers were "united" in their nuclear talks with Iran, amid speculation of splits with France, and stressed that he would not "rush" into a bad deal. "I emphasize: We are united in our goal, our approach, our resolve and our determination to ensure that Iran's program is entirely peaceful," Kerry said in Switzerland before leaving for London for talks with his German, French and British counterparts. France and the US disagree on a key negotiating point in the agreement, which calls for a phased lifting of UN sanctions in return for Iran curbing its nuclear program. The Guardian, citing diplomats who were present during the talks, said that France wishes to offer the Islamic Republic only a "symbolic easing" of punitive measures, with Fabius calling the French delegation in Lausanne in order to ensure that the latter did not make any further concessions. Fabius on Saturday reiterated that France "wants an agreement, but a robust one that really guarantees that Iran can have access to civilian nuclear power, but not the atomic bomb," Europe 1 radio reported. "If the deal is not sufficiently solid then regional countries would say it's not serious enough, so we are also going to get the nuclear weapon, and that would lead to an extremely dangerous nuclear proliferation." he said. US can prevent Iran developing nuclear bomb: CIA director The United States is confident it can prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons even if the Islamic republic pulls out of talks, CIA Director John Brennan said in remarks broadcast Sunday. Speaking on Fox News Sunday, Brennan said America has multiple measures at its disposal to ensure Iran doesn't become a nuclear power. "There are a number of things that the United States has available to it to prevent Iran from getting a bomb," the director of the Central Intelligence Agency said. Iran and six world powers are in negotiations to clinch a landmark deal that would have the country scale back its disputed nuclear program in return for relief from sanctions. Jim Watson (AFP) Jim Watson (AFP) "Director of Central Intelligence Agency John Brennan takes questions from reporters during a press conference at CIA headquarters in McLean, Virginia, December 11, 2014" "President Obama has made it very clear that we are going to prevent Iran from having that type of nuclear weapon that they were ... going on the track to obtain," Brennan added. "So, if they decide to go down that route, they know that they will do so at their peril." In response to a question about America's track record in monitoring Iran's nuclear program, Brennan acknowledged that US intelligence had historically been less than ideal on the issue. "I think we've gone to school on some of those developments over the last decade or so," he said. "We can now have a better plan and opportunity to verify some of the things that they are saying they are going to do and not do." Asked about reports of an underground nuclear site near Tehran, Brennan said: "I am confident that we have a good understanding of what the Iranian nuclear program entails." When asked if he was concerned about the possibility of a regional arms race, Brennan said partners in the Gulf, including Saudi Arabia, are confident the United States can act as a regional security guarantor. "We are going to keep close communication, I'm confident the Saudis will be a responsible partner and player in the region," Brennan said. (with AFP) III. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-32003852 21 March 2015 Last updated at 22:33 Iran nuclear: Western powers promise 'no bad deal' British Foreign Secretary Phillip Hammond says a deal must be "comprehensive, durable and verifiable" Western powers negotiating an agreement with Iran on its nuclear activity will not accept "a bad deal", UK Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond says. Ministers from France, Germany, and the UK along with the US Secretary of State met in London amid increased urgency to reach agreement by the end of March. Six world powers want to ensure that Iran cannot develop nuclear weapons - something it denies doing. Earlier, Iran's president spoke positively about reaching agreement. "There is nothing that cannot be resolved," although some differences still remain, Iranian state media quoted President Hassan Rouhani as saying. Mr Rouhani said that in the current round of talks in Lausanne, Switzerland, "shared points of view emerged in some of the areas where there had been a difference of opinion" and these could become "a foundation for a final agreement". Speaking after Saturday's talks in London, Mr Hammond said: "We will not do a bad deal that does not meet our red lines." An official statement from the meeting said: "We agreed that substantial progress had been made (with Iran) in key areas although there are still important issues on which no agreement has yet been possible. "Now is the time for Iran, in particular, to take difficult decisions." File photo: Iranian President Hassan Rouhani waving to the crowd during a speech in Qom, 25 February 2015 Mr Rouhani said "shared points of view" had emerged in the latest round of talks The four powers, along with China and Russia, make up the so-called P5+1 which is negotiating with Iran to scale back sensitive nuclear activities in return for an easing of international economic sanctions. Both Iran and the Western powers have set themselves deadlines of 31 March for a political framework agreement and 30 June for a final deal. US Secretary of State John Kerry also said that "substantial progress" had been made in the talks although "important gaps" remained. Mr Kerry flew to London from Switzerland and will return there to resume talks with Iran next week. But in a reminder of more hardline attitudes within the Iranian leadership, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned on Saturday against submitting to foreign demands in order to achieve economic growth. Sticking points in the nuclear talks are thought to include the pace at which sanctions would be lifted, how long the deal will last and how much of Iran's nuclear facilities will be open to inspection. -- Peace Is Doable -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Green Youth Movement" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send an email to [email protected]. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/greenyouth. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
