LIVE BLOG , Netanyahu: Israel won’t accept West’s ‘capitulation’ to Iran
Netanyahu: Israel won’t accept West’s ‘capitulation’ to Iran
Kerry ‘hopeful’ nuclear deal will be reached; Russian FM set to join talks Sunday
By Marissa Newman July 12, 2015, 1:36 pm
via Netanyahu: Israel won’t accept West’s ‘capitulation’ to Iran | The Times of Israel.
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Senate majority leader says Iran deal will be ‘hard sell’
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and other congressional leaders express doubts Sunday about a historic agreement with Iran to address that country’s nuclear program, predicting US President Barack Obama could face hurdles in Congress if negotiators reach a final deal.
“This is going to be a very hard sell for the administration,” McConnell says on “Fox News Sunday” when asked about the likelihood of Congress signing off on a deal.
Sen. Bob Corker, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, says lawmakers would review any agreement carefully to ensure the Iranians are held accountable and that any violations can be enforced.
“At the end of the day I think people understand that if this is a bad deal that is going to allow Iran to get a nuclear weapon, they would own this deal if they voted for it, and so they’ll want to disapprove it,” says Corker, R-Tenn. “On the other hand, if we feel like we’re better off with it, people will look to approve it.”
New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, says the pending deal made him anxious because the US has gone from making sure Iran does not have nuclear capability to managing it.
Menendez says he would judge the agreement when he has all the elements but says Obama needs to make very clear to Iran that there’s a longer term deterrence, “because in 12 to 13 years we will be exactly back to where we are today except that Iran will have $100 (billion) to $150 billion more in its pocket and promoting terrorism throughout the Middle East.”
— AP
Iran official says deal today ‘impossible’
An Iranian official casts doubt on reports a deal will be finalized by tonight.
“We are working hard, but a deal tonight is simply logistically impossible,” the Iranian official says, noting that the agreement will run roughly 100 pages.
— AP contributed
‘Major issues’ remain in talks — US official
“Major issues” must still be resolved in talks between world powers and Iran on a nuclear deal, a US official says following signs that an agreement may be close.
“We have never speculated about the timing of anything during these negotiations, and we’re certainly not going to start now — especially given the fact that major issues remain to be resolved in these talks,” the senior State Department official says.
— AFP
Deal to be announced Monday — diplomats
Diplomats say negotiators at the Iran nuclear talks are expected to reach a provisional agreement Sunday on a historic deal that would curb the country’s atomic program in return for sanctions relief.
Two diplomats at the talks tell The Associated Press the envisioned accord will be sent to capitals for review and, barring last-minute objections, be announced on Monday.
The diplomats spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the negotiations publicly.
— AP
All Iran sanctions to be lifted, report claims
A report on the semi-official Fars News Agency claims all sanctions against Iran will be lifted as part of a final deal with world powers — most of which will be eased “on day one,” while a number of restrictions will remain in place for “a limited and logical period of time.”
“In case the opposite side shows political will and the final agreement is signed, the text of the agreement will include the following points,” a source says.
“According to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, all sanctions against Iran are terminated and Iran will no more be recognized as a sanctioned nation. The JCPA only envisages a set of temporary restrictions that will be removed after a limited and logical period of time, as stated earlier by the Iranian Supreme Leader.”
“All economic, financial and banking sanctions against Iran will be terminated for good on day one after the endorsement of the deal, again as the Iranian Supreme Leader has demanded.”
The deal also eases the arms embargo, the source says.
“Iran will no more be under any arms embargo, and according to a UN Security Council resolution that will be issued on the day when the deal is signed by the seven states, all arms embargos against Iran will be terminated, while its annex keeps some temporary restrictions on Iran for a limited period.”
Russian FM en route to Vienna
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is flying out to Vienna to take part in talks on Iran’s nuclear program, the foreign ministry says Sunday on Twitter.
“Sergei Lavrov is flying out to Vienna to take part in the talks of the ‘six’ international mediators and Iran on the Iranian nuclear program,” the ministry says in a tweet.
— AFP
Iran diplomat says talks need ‘political will’
A historic nuclear deal between Iran and major powers is “within reach” but still requires “political will,” an Iranian diplomat warns Sunday amid signs talks in Vienna were nearing a conclusion.
“A deal is in reach. It only requires political will at this point,” the diplomat, Alireza Miryousefi, says on Twitter on a 16th day of negotiations.
— AFP
Fabius believes talks in ‘final phase’
France’s foreign minister says as he returned to nuclear talks between Iran and major powers that he believes the negotiations are now in the final phase.
“I hope we are finally entering the final phase of these marathon negotiations. I believe it,” Laurent Fabius tells reporters in Vienna.
— AFP
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