Negotiations over Iran’s disputed nuclear program are moving into day three in Geneva. But no deal is on the table just yet, despite what some are describing as progress.
WILLIAM HAGUE: “These negotiations have made very good progress … There are still important issues to resolve.” (Via Sky News)
That mirrors the comments U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry made Friday, that differences remain in the talks, but they are working hard at reaching a conclusion.
Those differences these leaders are referring to are the steps the West wants to make toward restricting the scope of Iran’s nuclear program, which according to the BBC will be the topic of Saturday’s discussion.
“They may want Iran to cap the amount of enrichment that Iran does, they may want Iran to downgrade its existing stocks of medium enriched uranium.”
For the U.S. the talks basically boil down to a single compromise in which Iran will suspend most of its uranium enrichment for the next six months, in exchange for eased sanctions. (Via Al Jazeera)
But for Israel — one of the U.S.’s closest allies in the Middle East— there’s a major sticking point.
While Israel isn’t involved in the talks, its Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he wants every piece of Iran’s nuclear program dismantled — anything less, he says, would be a “bad idea.”
“Israel is not obliged by this agreement, and Israel will do everything it needs to do to defend itself and the security of its people.” (Via The Washington Post)
The U.S. continues to maintain that it’s on the same page with Israel. Both countries are skeptical of Iran’s claim that is using it’s nuclear power strictly for civilian use and generating power.
If an agreement is reached in Geneva, analysts say will be the first step forward toward curbing Iran’s nuclear power in decades. (Via MSNBC)
