Done framework deal or unfinished business? Early Wednesday morning Lausanne time, Russian media reported P5+1 countries and Iran reached agreement “in principle on all key aspects of a deal.”
According to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov:
“One can say with relative certainty that we have reached an agreement in principle at the ministerial level.”
“The agreement includes an all-encompassing approach to the settlement (of Iranian nuclear issues), including methods of verification of the nuclear program’s exclusively peaceful nature by the IAEA, as well as extensive provisions on lifting sanctions.”
“It will be put on paper in the coming hours or throughout the day. Experts will finalize details by the end of June.”
At the same time, Lavrov expressed caution saying “there is never 100% certainty” that what’s within reach will be grasped.
He explained
“the whole concept that formed the basis of this work is based on the position put forward by Russian President Vladimir Putin, a few years ago, designed to approach Iran’s nuclear program on the basis of the recognition of the country’s inalienable right to pursue peaceful atomic research, including uranium enrichment.”
Overnight Tuesday, Press TV quoted Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif saying:
“We’ve been working since 7:30 in the morning and it’s been a very long day for all delegations.”
“We have accomplished quite a bit, but people needed to get some rest and start over early in the morning.”
“I hope that we can finalize the work on Wednesday and hopefully start the process of drafting tomorrow (Wednesday).”
Early Wednesday, Fars News reported Zarif saying solutions were found on a “major portion” of remaining differences.
Iranian Foreign Ministry Political and International Affairs Director-General Hamid Baeedinejad said
“many aspects related to the issue of the sanctions have been settled, including the removal of the unilateral and multilateral sanctions, and most of details have been written down.”
He stressed Tehran’s concerns over Washington’s commitment to deal with Tehran in good faith.
Iran “will fulfill our commitments in case the other side fulfills its undertakings, and if the western side refrains from complying with its undertakings, we will stop implementing our commitments too,” he stressed. “Therefore, there is no concern in this regard.”
“We are in the final stage of negotiations now. We are now working on some limited issues related to the sanctions along with a number of other issues, including research and development and we hope that the whole subject of the sanctions will be settled after resolving the few remaining problem.”
He and other Iranian officials stressed they want no deal for the sake of one alone. They want one guaranteeing Tehran’s legitimate rights.
Drafting framework language will proceed on Wednesday covering “solutions (on) most issues.”
Later in the day, a joint statement will be issued. Or will it?
Reuters cited an unnamed diplomat close to talks denying agreement was reached. An unnamed source said Washington and France want “the pressure (of sanctions kept) in place.”
Both countries shifted positions. French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius left talks – saying he’d return when it was “useful.”
According to Reuters: “It was not clear whether his departure was a sign of a major problem in the talks.”
China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi flew home – leaving his deputy to continue talks.
Reuters indicated a “tentative agreement” on where things now stand. A public statement to follow will highlight remaining areas of disagreement.
Parts of an understanding reached so far will be kept confidential. It appears much remains to be resolved before anyone can declare victory.
If a framework agreement is announced later on Wednesday, it’s unclear if it’ll be in statement or draft resolution form.
It’s very clear Israel intends going all-out to sabotage resolution any way it can.
Netanyahu never quits. Despite clear evidence refuting him from his own Mossad and US intelligence, he insists the break-out time Iran needs to develop a nuclear weapon is “less than a year, and possibly a lot less than that.”
He’s been saying the same thing for years – Big Lies repeated ad nauseam.
The whole world knows Iran’s program is peaceful. It has no military component.
No evidence suggests otherwise – or indicates Iran has any intention to develop nuclear weapons. It want a nuclear weapons-free Middle East.
As long as Washington tolerates no sovereign independent states, final agreement with Iran by June, if consummated, won’t likely be worth the paper it’s written on.
Nothing ahead suggests change. Iran remains between a rock and a hard place regardless of how nuclear talks turn out – now or later by end of June.
US imperial arrogance is Iran’s greatest threat. It’s the greatest threat to world peace. America’s rage to dominate risks WW III.
Nothing consummated in Lausanne or going forward changes the horror of this possibility.
Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at [email protected]. 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. Listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network. It airs three times weekly: live on Sundays at 1PM Central time plus two prerecorded archived programs.
