A Look At Why Last Week's Iranian Nuclear Talks Did Not Collapse

Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and European Union High Representative Federica Mogherini arrive to deliver statements after nuclear talks April 2 in Lausanne, Switzerland. (Pool/Reuters)

Carol Morello and Karen DeYoung, Washington Post: At the talks on Iran’s nuclear program, near-collapse and then a breakthrough

At 10 p.m. on March 27, Secretary of State John F. Kerry strode through the carpeted hallways of the Beau-Rivage Palace hotel in Lausanne, Switzerland, to speak with his Iranian counterpart, Mohammad Javad Zarif. As the two men sat alone in Zarif’s suite, Kerry told him that the U.S. team was ready to abandon more than a year of nuclear negotiations and go home.

For two days, the U.S. delegation had watched the Iranians appear to backtrack from previous agreements on critical issues, including international sanctions and enrichment research. Kerry said he was ready to throw in the towel.

By the time the meeting ended 20 minutes later, Zarif had signaled enough flexibility that Kerry thought it was worth staying, according to senior administration officials familiar with the talks. For one more night, failure was taken off the table.

WNU Editor: It is hard to comment on something where the details are still kept secret, and the only information that we are getting is from those who are spinning the stories from their respective sides. But if this story is accurate, it tells me that future talks and negotiations are going to be very difficult .... the Iranians are not interested in compromising on their nuclear program .... and when it suits them to continue with the talks .... they just "throw a bone" to excite the Americans that progress is being made.