Historic Iran nuclear deal reached

[webfact]

Nuke deal: World powers, Iran seal breakthrough framework
By GEORGE JAHN and MATTHEW LEE

LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) — Capping exhausting and contentious talks, Iran and world powers sealed a breakthrough agreement Thursday outlining limits on Iran's nuclear program to keep it from being able to produce atomic weapons. The Islamic Republic was promised an end to years of crippling economic sanctions, but only if negotiators transform the plan into a comprehensive pact.

They will try to do that in the next three months.

The United States and Iran, long-time adversaries who hashed out much of the agreement, each hailed the efforts of their diplomats over days of sleepless nights in Switzerland. Speaking at the White House, President Barack Obama called it a "good deal" that would address concerns about Iran's nuclear ambitions. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif called it a "win-win outcome."

Those involved have spent 18 months in broader negotiations that were extended twice since an interim accord was reached shortly after Iranian President Hassan Rouhani entered office. That deal itself was the product of more than a year of secret negotiations between the Obama administration and Iran, a country the U.S. still considers the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism.

Opponents of the emerging accord, including Israel and Republican leaders in Congress, reacted with skepticism. They criticized the outline for failing to do enough to curb Iran's potential to produce nuclear weapons or to mandate intrusive enough inspections. Obama disagreed.

"This framework would cut off every pathway that Iran could take to develop a nuclear weapon," he declared. "This deal is not based on trust. It's based on unprecedented verification."

If implemented, the understandings reached Thursday would mark the first time in more than a decade of diplomatic efforts that Iran's nuclear efforts would be rolled back.

It commits Tehran to significant cuts in centrifuges, the machines that can spin uranium gas to levels used in nuclear warheads. Of the nearly 20,000 centrifuges Iran now has installed or running at its main enrichment site, the country would be allowed to operate just over 5,000. Much of its enriched stockpiles would be neutralized. A planned reactor would be reconstructed so it produced no weapons-grade plutonium. Monitoring and inspections by the U.N. nuclear agency would be enhanced.

America's negotiating partners in Europe strongly backed the result. President Francois Hollande of France, which had pushed the U.S. for a tougher stance, endorsed the accord while warning that "sanctions lifted can be re-established if the agreement is not applied."

Obama sought to frame the deal as a salve that reduces the chances of the combustible Middle East becoming even more unstable with the introduction of a nuclear-armed Iran. Many fear that would spark an arms race that could spiral out of control in a region rife with sectarian rivalry, terrorist threats and weak or failed states.

Obama said he had spoken with Saudi Arabia's King Salman and that he'd invite him and other Arab leaders to Camp David this spring to discuss security strategy. The Sunni majority Saudis have made veiled threats about creating their own nuclear program to counter Shia-led Iran.

The American leader also spoke by telephone with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, perhaps the sharpest critic of the diplomacy with Iran. The White House said Obama told Netanyahu that the agreement "in no way diminishes our concerns with respect to Iran's sponsorship of terrorism and threats towards Israel."

A final agreement "must significantly roll back Iran's nuclear capabilities and stop its terrorism and aggression," Netanyahu said in Israel.

But Obama saved his sharpest words for members of Congress who have threatened to either try to kill the agreement or approve new sanctions against Iran. Appearing in the Rose Garden, Obama said the issues at stake are "bigger than politics."

"These are matters of war and peace," he said, and if Congress kills the agreement "international unity will collapse, and the path to conflict will widen."

Hawks on Capitol Hill reacted slowly to the news from the Swiss city of Lausanne, perhaps because the framework was far more detailed than many diplomats had predicted over a topsy-turvy week of negotiation.

House Speaker John Boehner said it would be "naive to suggest the Iranian regime will not continue to use its nuclear program, and any economic relief, to further destabilize the region."

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Corker, R-Tenn., said his panel would vote this month on legislation giving Congress the right to vote on a final deal. Freshman Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., who penned a letter that many GOP senators signed last month to Iran's leaders, said he would work "to protect America from this very dangerous proposal."

Many of the nuclear limits on Iran would be in place for a decade, while others would last 15 or 20 years. Sanctions related to Iran's nuclear programs would be suspended by the U.S., the United Nations and the European Union after the International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed Iran's compliance.

In a joint statement, European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini and Iran's Zarif called the agreement a "decisive step." Highlighting Iran's effort to show a new face of its government, Zarif then held a news conference, answering many questions in English, and Obama's statement was carried live and uncensored on Iranian state TV.

Still, all sides spoke with a sense of caution.

"We have taken a major step, but are still some way away from where we want to be," Zarif told reporters, even as he voiced hope that a final agreement might ease suspicion between the U.S. and Iran, which haven't had diplomatic relations since the 1979 overthrow of the shah and the subsequent U.S. Embassy hostage crisis in Tehran.

Zarif said the agreement would show "our program is exclusively peaceful, has always been and always will remain exclusively peaceful." But he also said it would not hinder the country's pursuit of atomic energy for civilian purposes. "We will continue enriching," he said. "We will continue research and development." He said the heavy water reactor would be "modernized."

Kerry lashed out at critics who have demanded that Iran halt all uranium enrichment and completely close a deeply buried underground facility that may be impervious to an air attack.

"Simply demanding that Iran capitulate makes a nice sound bite, but it is not a policy, it is not a realistic plan," Kerry said.

The final breakthrough came a day after a flurry of overnight sessions between Kerry and Zarif, and meetings involving the six powers at a luxury hotel in Lausanne.

As late as Thursday afternoon, it still appeared an agreement might be beyond reach as the U.S. pushed to spell out concrete commitments and Iran adamantly demanded that only a vague statement be presented. In an apparent compromise, some details were noted in the general statement and others were saved for and a more detailed position paper issued by the White House and State Department.

Some of that tension remained.

"There is no need to spin using 'fact sheets' so early on," Zarif tweeted. He also questioned some of the assertions contained in the document, such as the speed of a U.S. sanctions drawdown.
___

AP writers Julie Pace and Bradley Klapper contributed to this report from Washington.


-- (c) Associated Press 2015-04-03

[Steely Dan]

According to the Iranians there is no agreement and no commitments and president Obama is lying when he claims there is. I must say that is the most believable thing I've ever heard uttered by an Iranian spokesman.

http://freebeacon.com/national-security/iran-accuses-u-s-of-lying-about-new-nuke-agreement/

[Linky]

Well done to all the nations involved in the negotiations.

[webfact]

JERUSALEM (AP) - Netanyahu tells Obama: World nuclear deal with Iran 'would threaten the survival of Israel.'

[NeverSure]

According to the Iranians there is no agreement and no commitments and president Obama is lying when he claims there is. I must say that is the most believable thing I've ever heard uttered by an Iranian spokesman.

http://freebeacon.com/national-security/iran-accuses-u-s-of-lying-about-new-nuke-agreement/

I guess there's no end to the lying from the Obama administration.

Even if they were telling the truth, even this article makes it clear much is left to be done. This headline is also misleading.

[ezzra]

This day should be remembered in infamy for all to know that Iran, in not too far distance

from now, will have a nuclear weapons aimed at everywhere mounted on an Iran made

ICBM,

Obama was looking for a feather in his otherwise bare cap, to say that he's the one that did

it, time will tell that this is the worst agreement ever, and the world will be very sorry for that

but by than it will too late, here comes a nuclear capable country with an one agenda to

rule the world and install it's Shia doctrine on as many countries as possible, no matter

what price they will have to pay,

This is a deal made with the devil, and the devil will make you pay... dearly...

[Linky]

According to the Iranians there is no agreement and no commitments and president Obama is lying when he claims there is. I must say that is the most believable thing I've ever heard uttered by an Iranian spokesman.

S

http://freebeacon.com/national-security/iran-accuses-u-s-of-lying-about-new-nuke-agreement/

Wish you would make your mind up. You dont trust Iran but then youndo trust them when it fits your agenda.

[CMNightRider]

Lets think about this for a minute. Obama just made a deal with Iran, who is the "worlds leading state sponsor of terrorism and he thinks this is a good deal, OMG! This deal is even worst and far most serous than the Bergdahl deal.

Edited April 3, 2015 by CMNightRider

[theoldgit]

Baiting post removed.

[zydeco]

Obama and the European haven't just surrendered to Iran, they have betrayed the only stabilizing forces among the Arabs: Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan. All heck is about to break loose. Obama is systematically undoing American policy over the past 30 years that won the Cold War. I remember the 70s when you couldn't go into an airport or cafe without the gnawing fear that someone (PLO, Baader-Meinhoff, Red Army Faction) would blow you to bits. Here we go again.

[SABloke]

I don't know why everyone's so worried about Iran having nuclear weapons. Think about it: 70 years ago, before the digital age, people managed to build nukes. Since then countless nations have constructed nuclear weapons. Iran, however, with all the modern technology at its fingertips can still, after decades of trying, NOT produce one. Conclussion: Iranian scientists are idiots

[mania]

According to the Iranians there is no agreement and no commitments and president Obama is lying when he claims there is. I must say that is the most believable thing I've ever heard uttered by an Iranian spokesman.

http://freebeacon.com/national-security/iran-accuses-u-s-of-lying-about-new-nuke-agreement/

Says White House misleading Congress, American people with fact sheet

BY: Adam Kredo

Adam Kredo is senior writer for the Washington Free Beacon. Formerly an award-winning political reporter for the Washington Jewish Week,

Oh what a shocker....not.....It is a Israel fan site nothing more

What else would they publish

[mania]

"Simply demanding that Iran capitulate makes a nice sound bite, but it is not a policy, it is not a realistic plan," Kerry said.

Cant say I agree often with Kerry but he is spot on with this

[sdanielmcev]

I don't think Obama is particularly stupid, but this deal, if they ever do make it, is particularly stupid.

[snarky66]

According to the Iranians there is no agreement and no commitments and president Obama is lying when he claims there is. I must say that is the most believable thing I've ever heard uttered by an Iranian spokesman.

http://freebeacon.com/national-security/iran-accuses-u-s-of-lying-about-new-nuke-agreement/

I guess there's no end to the lying from the Obama administration.

Even if they were telling the truth, even this article makes it clear much is left to be done. This headline is also misleading.

The Iranian Foreign Minister is already calling Obama a liar. Story in the Washington free beacon.

[Srikcir]

According to the Iranians there is no agreement and no commitments and president Obama is lying when he claims there is. I must say that is the most believable thing I've ever heard uttered by an Iranian spokesman.

http://freebeacon.com/national-security/iran-accuses-u-s-of-lying-about-new-nuke-agreement/

Obama is not lying. Iran is not lying. It's just a difficulty in understanding diplomatic speak.

The current breakthrough agreement is not THE DONE DEAL. The “good deal” is an agreed PLAN (some like the term "roadmap") that would be used to form a comprehensive PACT that would become THE DONE DEAL.

The final penned-deal will take up to another next three months that complies with the P-5 original, unalterable timetable. The P-5 negotiating teams are under no compulsion to get a forced deal for the sake of anyone’s political career or legacy. The consequences of no DONE DEAL will lead to a quick nuclear proliferation of the entire Middle East, notably with Saudi Arabia and Egypt - more than enough to obliterate a nuclear-armed Iran without Israel and the US participation.

[DeaconJohn]

This is a good first step in getting Iran to abide by international law.

Next objective: Israel.

[ToddinChonburi]

I don't know why everyone's so worried about Iran having nuclear weapons. Think about it: 70 years ago, before the digital age, people managed to build nukes. Since then countless nations have constructed nuclear weapons. Iran, however, with all the modern technology at its fingertips can still, after decades of trying, NOT produce one. Conclussion: Iranian scientists are idiots

Yes the sanctions have made it much more difficult but they do have ICBM's and have been testing them. The CIA sneaks out scientist that go under ground and escape. The rest are threatened to comply.

You also forget that they have called for the death of all non Muslim's

So I have to conclude you are either living in a cave or you are drunk all the time.

[CMNightRider]

According to the Iranians there is no agreement and no commitments and president Obama is lying when he claims there is. I must say that is the most believable thing I've ever heard uttered by an Iranian spokesman.

http://freebeacon.com/national-security/iran-accuses-u-s-of-lying-about-new-nuke-agreement/

Obama is not lying. Iran is not lying. It's just a difficulty in understanding diplomatic speak.

The current breakthrough agreement is not THE DONE DEAL. The “good deal” is an agreed PLAN (some like the term "roadmap") that would be used to form a comprehensive PACT that would become THE DONE DEAL.

The final penned-deal will take up to another next three months that complies with the P-5 original, unalterable timetable. The P-5 negotiating teams are under no compulsion to get a forced deal for the sake of anyone’s political career or legacy. The consequences of no DONE DEAL will lead to a quick nuclear proliferation of the entire Middle East, notably with Saudi Arabia and Egypt - more than enough to obliterate a nuclear-armed Iran without Israel and the US participation.

Huh?? Obama is not lying? "It's difficult understanding diplomatic speak"? It's really not that difficult to see when Obama is lying. Basically, focus your attention on his lips. As soon as they start moving, there is a 99% chance Obama is being less than truthful (lying).

This agreement threatens Israel's safety and even their existence. It's no secrete Iran is trying to develop a nuclear bomb, and Obama just paved the way for Iran to do just that.

[NeverSure]

According to the Iranians there is no agreement and no commitments and president Obama is lying when he claims there is. I must say that is the most believable thing I've ever heard uttered by an Iranian spokesman.

http://freebeacon.com/national-security/iran-accuses-u-s-of-lying-about-new-nuke-agreement/

Obama is not lying. Iran is not lying. It's just a difficulty in understanding diplomatic speak.

If a statement is made which misleads some people because it doesn't tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth it's a lie. Just because diplomats are good at it doesn't make it right.

[Anthony5]

According to the Iranians there is no agreement and no commitments and president Obama is lying when he claims there is. I must say that is the most believable thing I've ever heard uttered by an Iranian spokesman.

http://freebeacon.com/national-security/iran-accuses-u-s-of-lying-about-new-nuke-agreement/

Obama is not lying. Iran is not lying. It's just a difficulty in understanding diplomatic speak.

The current breakthrough agreement is not THE DONE DEAL. The “good deal” is an agreed PLAN (some like the term "roadmap") that would be used to form a comprehensive PACT that would become THE DONE DEAL.

The final penned-deal will take up to another next three months that complies with the P-5 original, unalterable timetable. The P-5 negotiating teams are under no compulsion to get a forced deal for the sake of anyone’s political career or legacy. The consequences of no DONE DEAL will lead to a quick nuclear proliferation of the entire Middle East, notably with Saudi Arabia and Egypt - more than enough to obliterate a nuclear-armed Iran without Israel and the US participation.

Huh?? Obama is not lying? "It's difficult understanding diplomatic speak"? It's really not that difficult to see when Obama is lying. Basically, focus your attention on his lips. As soon as they start moving, there is a 99% chance Obama is being less than truthful (lying).

This agreement threatens Israel's safety and even their existence. It's no secrete Iran is trying to develop a nuclear bomb, and Obama just paved the way for Iran to do just that.

So at least something positive about the deal.

Edited April 3, 2015 by Anthony5

[NeverSure]

From Speaker of the House John Boehner's website:

WASHINGTON, DC - House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) issued the following statement in response to the president’s remarks on the Iran nuclear talks:

“The president says negotiators have cleared the basic threshold needed to continue talks, but the parameters for a final deal represent an alarming departure from the White House’s initial goals. My longtime concerns about the parameters of this potential agreement remain, but my immediate concern is the administration signaling it will provide near-term sanctions relief. Congress must be allowed to fully review the details of any agreement before any sanctions are lifted.

MORE

[Publicus]

It's taking the extreme right media some considerable time to come up with new lunar-orbit arguments against the Framework Agreement announced by the P5+1 and Iran in Switzerland.

There isn't much to say, so in the meantime while we wait for the right wing media to put forth their new lines, we have to read some really crappy posts based on third or fourth string marginal moonbeam media.

Where's Faux when we need 'em

[Anthony5]

From Speaker of the House John Boehner's website:

WASHINGTON, DC - House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) issued the following statement in response to the president’s remarks on the Iran nuclear talks:

“The president says negotiators have cleared the basic threshold needed to continue talks, but the parameters for a final deal represent an alarming departure from the White House’s initial goals. My longtime concerns about the parameters of this potential agreement remain, but my immediate concern is the administration signaling it will provide near-term sanctions relief. Congress must be allowed to fully review the details of any agreement before any sanctions are lifted.

MORE

A statement by America's own Jatuporn. Now that must be very credible.

[Muzarella]

Please...before making non sense comments criticizing Obama...look at this:

https://youtu.be/O0giXvhEWMo

https://youtu.be/Nfg1U3Z0mVMh

Edited April 3, 2015 by Muzarella

[NeverSure]

It's taking the extreme right media some considerable time to come up with new lunar-orbit arguments against the Framework Agreement announced by the P5+1 and Iran in Switzerland.

There isn't much to say, so in the meantime while we wait for the right wing media to put forth their new lines, we have to read some really crappy posts based on third or fourth string marginal moonbeam media.

Where's Faux when we need 'em

It didn't take John Boehner long to issue the release I posted above. The US does have a Congress which makes laws, you know, and there are enough Congress persons on both sides of the aisle to keep this thing in check.

They don't like it at all, and especially remember that Obama went around them to the 5+1 deal which was stupid.

Expect some serious pushback, even if this release saying there's a deal is a lie.

[hard124get]

Lets think about this for a minute. Obama just made a deal with Iran, who is the "worlds leading state sponsor of terrorism and he thinks this is a good deal, OMG! This deal is even worst and far most serous than the Bergdahl deal.

who made Iran, the 'world's leading sponsor of terrorism'? USA . in a recent Gallop poll , the world voted USA as the biggest threat to peace, by a wide margin.

[Pinot]

It's taking the extreme right media some considerable time to come up with new lunar-orbit arguments against the Framework Agreement announced by the P5+1 and Iran in Switzerland.

There isn't much to say, so in the meantime while we wait for the right wing media to put forth their new lines, we have to read some really crappy posts based on third or fourth string marginal moonbeam media.

Where's Faux when we need 'em

World wide praise for the agreement, but of course anything accomplished by the Obama administration needs to be shat upon. It's so predictable. In the tin foil hat, koolaid sipping world of the marginal moonbeam media (I like that phrase) the lemmings immediately fall in lock step.

Meanwhile back at the ranch, Scott Walker says, "I will pull back on that (agreement) on January 20, 2017 (the day he takes office as POTUS...as if), because the last thing — not just for the region but for this world — we need is a nuclear-armed Iran. It leaves not only problems for Israel, because they want to annihilate Israel, it leaves the problems in the sense that the Saudis, the Jordanians and others are gonna want to have access to their own nuclear weapons…"

In that great void that is the mind of Scott Walker and the rest of the marginal moonbeam media, shutting down enrichment facilities in an accountable and transparent way is somehow a way to accelerate their weapon development and an arms race in the Middle East.

That's where we're at with Republican logic these days. The lunacy is breathtaking.

[NeverSure]

World wide praise for the agreement, but of course anything accomplished by the Obama administration needs to be shat upon. It's so predictable. In the tin foil hat, koolaid sipping world of the marginal moonbeam media (I like that phrase) the lemmings immediately fall in lock step.

Meanwhile back at the ranch, Scott Walker says, "I will pull back on that (agreement) on January 20, 2017 (the day he takes office as POTUS...as if), because the last thing — not just for the region but for this world — we need is a nuclear-armed Iran. It leaves not only problems for Israel, because they want to annihilate Israel, it leaves the problems in the sense that the Saudis, the Jordanians and others are gonna want to have access to their own nuclear weapons…"

In that great void that is the mind of Scott Walker and the rest of the marginal moonbeam media, shutting down enrichment facilities in an accountable and transparent way is somehow a way to accelerate their weapon development and an arms race in the Middle East.

That's where we're at with Republican logic these days. The lunacy is breathtaking.

Some people are living in a fairy tale land of their own making. It's a presidential campaign kickoff year. Obama doesn't have to run again. Do you think the politicians who do have to run again don't know what they are doing?

On Iran, Obama Is Ignoring Public Opinion at His Own Peril

The president's pursuit of a nuclear deal with Iran underscores the lengths to which he is willing to bypass public resistance.

March 19, 2015 Throughout the contentious debate between the White House and Congress over the Iran nuclear negotiations, one important piece of the equation has been largely overlooked: American public opinion. If voters were confident that President Obama was striking a good deal with Iran that would prevent Tehran from getting nuclear weapons, he'd have little trouble getting support from the legislative branch.

But the reason the president is facing such bipartisan backlash is that an overwhelming number of voters are deeply worried about the direction of the negotiations. Think about how rare, in these polarized times, mobilizing a veto-proof majority of congressional Republicans and Democrats is for any significant legislation. Yet despite all the distractions, Congress is close to achieving that goal: requiring the administration to go to Congress for approval of any deal.

LINK

Edited April 3, 2015 by NeverSure

[up-country_sinclair]

The US does have a Congress which makes laws, you know, and there are enough Congress persons on both sides of the aisle to keep this thing in check.

They don't like it at all, and especially remember that Obama went around them to the 5+1 deal which was stupid.

Expect some serious pushback, even if this release saying there's a deal is a lie.

For some reason you insist on posting and re-posting this misinformation.

Can you count to 67?

If so, post a list of the 67 US Senators who have publicly stated they will "keep this thing in check".

Anyway, this agreement is a great step forward in making the world a better place. It's only Netanyahu and the Israel Firsters who are pulling their hair out over this peace deal.

Well done P5+1 and Iran.