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How to Tell if the Iran Talks Are Working

IN THIS ISSUE: How to tell if the Iran talks are working, UN Security Council tightens sanctions on North Korea following botched rocket launch, Scottish National Party said rethinking position on NATO membership, nuke expert pool shrinking, Agni-V to be test fired on Wednesday, Japan seeks to restart some nuclear power plants

Published on April 17, 2012
 

How to Tell if the Iran Talks Are Working

Mark Hibbs, Ariel Levite, George Perkovich | New York Times

Ashton and Jalili

After a hiatus of more than a year, negotiations about Iran’s nuclear program are set to resume in Turkey on Friday between Iran and France, Germany, Britain, Russia, China and the United States. Though the participants foresee several rounds of discussions, all will be acutely aware that time to reach agreement peacefully may be running out.

So it is important to ask, at the start, how we will be able to tell whether the talks are moving forward.

Though talks that have taken place since 2004 have produced no real progress, recent developments suggest some grounds for cautious optimism. Sanctions are hurting Iran, and even tougher ones are expected to go into effect July 1. President Obama and other American officials have repeatedly warned Iran in recent weeks that the window for diplomacy is closing. Israel’s patience for a meaningful outcome from diplomacy is running thin. Iranian leaders presumably recognize that the likelihood of military action would be higher than ever if negotiations collapsed or began to stretch out aimlessly.

In addition, there are some indications that Iran’s attitude may have become more flexible. Iran still insists that its nuclear program is intended for peaceful use, and that it will not compromise on its right to enrich uranium.   It continues to rebuff the International Atomic Energy Agency’s demands for greater cooperation, while threatening retaliation for sanctions imposed on it. But its leaders may be creating room for compromise.      Full Article

Related:
Backed Into a Corner (Mousavian, Foreign Policy)



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