Secretary of State John Kerry speaks about Iran's nuclear program in Vienna, where he will join negotiators from Iran and the major Western powers on Thursday.
Four days ahead of a deadline to reach an agreement on Iran's nuclear program the U.S. and Iran remain tight-lipped about the status of nuclear talks and it seems increasingly unlikely a deal will be reached in time. Secretary of State John Kerry joins negotiators in Vienna today as they attempt to close a deal before the Nov. 24 deadline.
Negotiators from the major Western powers seek to reach a deal with Iran that would ensure the peaceful nature of its nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief. U.S. officials involved in the talks have denied that any discussion about a deadline extension has taken place, asserting that all remain focused on reaching a deal before the agreed upon cutoff.
Kerry said Thursday said that it should not be that difficult for Iran to prove its nuclear program exists for solely peaceful purposes, something the country has continually alleged. He said those involved in the talks will not negotiate in public and that they are 'going to proceed carefully' over the next few days.
'Yes, we do want to get an agreement, but it's not just any agreement. It has to be an agreement that works, that achieves the goal of guaranteeing that the pathways to a bomb will not and cannot be used,' Kerry said in Paris before departing for Vienna. 'We hope that those gaps that exist - and they do exist - can be closed.'
But even as negotiators scramble to reach a diplomatic deal by Nov. 24, a delay would increase the ability of both the U.S. and Iran to continue selling the value of the talks domestically. Congressional leaders have expressed doubt at the process, fearing Iran will gain outsized concessions from the U.S. on its nuclear capabilities in exchange for sanctions relief for its isolated economy.
Republican Sens. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and Mark Kirk, R-Ill., sent a letter to the White House Wednesday night cautioning against sidestepping Congress on a deal. Forty-three senators, all Republicans, signed the letter.
'Reported plans to circumvent Congress suggest that your negotiators may be concluding a weak and dangerous deal which will prove unacceptable to the American people,' the letter said. 'The negative consequences of a bad deal to the United States are immense, and will impact the security and safety of Americans and send a message of U.S. weakness to our allies and partners in the Middle East and beyond, including Israel.'
Congressional leaders contend that any sanctions relief would have to be approved by Congress and the letter asked President Barack Obama to work with legislators on an agreement. It also expressed concern that Obama is 'apparently seeking' cooperation with Iran in the fight against the Islamic State group. Obama wrote a secret letter to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in October that discussed the campaign against the terrorist organization.
The negotiations have made Israel, an Iranian foe, extremely nervous that Iran will be allowed to maintain a level of nuclear capability sufficient to produce a bomb.
On Thursday, International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Yukiya Amano addressed the agency's board of governors and called upon Iran to provide necessary information on its nuclear program. The agency is responsible for monitoring Iran's nuclear activities and ensuring compliance with provisions in the Joint Plan of Action agreement between Iran and the Western powers last November as part of the negotiations.
'But we are not in a position to provide credible assurance about the absence of undeclared nuclear material and activities in Iran, and therefore to conclude that all nuclear material in Iran is in peaceful activities,' Amano said.
Posted by Unknown on Thursday, November 20, 2014 - Rating: 4.5
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