WarSclerotic

‘Iran nuclear talks plagued by mistrust’ – Israel News, Ynetnews.

Senior US official privy to West’s negotiations with Iran says White House skeptic about their chances; but US needs to be sure it made every diplomatic effort to stop Tehran from getting nuclear weapons

Attila Somfalvi

The United States has no intention to recognizing Iran’s right to enrich uranium, a senior US official privy to the West’s nuclear negotiations with the Islamic Republic told Ynet Saturday.

Iran must suspend its uranium enrichment program and address the international community’s concerns, he added.

According to the official, Washington and its allies will continue to pressure Iran via various sanctions, until it complies.

The US, he said, does not know whether the Iranians are taking part in the negotiations “to find a solution or to waste everyone’s time.” Nevertheless, the West is in agreement – Iran must suspend 20% uranium enrichment, he said, “But we don’t really know if a deal is possible.”

Iran, it seems, has yet to decide for itself whether or not it well pursue the nuclear negotiations seriously, he hedged.

Baghdad talks (Photo: Reuters)

The nuclear talks are plagued by great mistrust between the parties, he said. The West demands that Iran halts all uranium enrichment as well as the operations at the Fordu nuclear site; while Iran presented a five-point plan demanding that the international community recognize its right to pursue such nuclear endeavors.

According to the American official the talks in Baghdad were essentially a way for the West to see whether such negotiation were even possible with Iran. “Talks for the sake of talking are meaningless,” he said.

While in Baghdad, he added, the West made clear to Iran that time was of the essence: “There is a diplomatic window, but it won’t stay open forever,” he said.

‘Israel and US see eye-to-eye on Iran’

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak voiced their skepticism over whether any headway could be achieved in the nuclear negotiations with Iran, prompting Washington to involve Israel as much as possible in the talks.

Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman – the United States’ top negotiator in the nuclear talks arrived in Israel on Friday, to brief the two and “reaffirm the US’ unshakeable commitment to Israel’s security,” a department statement said.

Washington and Jerusalem “are in constant dialogue,” he added, saying the United States was “highly aware of Israel’s just concerns” regarding Iran.

The sanctions on Iran will continue until it meets the international community’s demands, he said. Israel and the United States see eye-to-eye on Iran and are agree that Iran cannot be allowed to obtain nuclear weapons, he added.

Still, Washington feels that it must exhaust all diplomatic avenues vis-à-vis Iran, while the diplomatic window is viable.

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