Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- June 4, 2015

Jonathan Ernst/Reuters

Jonathan Alter, Daily Beast: Obama Bets It All on the Mullahs

The president looks to secure his legacy with a deal that would prevent Iran from becoming a nuclear power. But can he stave off the hawks both here and in Tehran?

The moment of truth for U.S.-Iranian relations—and for President Obama’s foreign policy legacy— is nearly upon us. With a June 30 deadline looming for the nuclear talks, we’ll learn soon enough whether Obama’s poker skills are good enough to keep the two countries off the path to war.

Last week’s news was hardly reassuring: The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reports that Iran may have recently increased its nuclear stockpiles by as much as 20 percent since the 2013 Interim Agreement on Iran’s nuclear program. Whether that’s a late bargaining chip, a show of bad faith (though not a technical violation of the agreement) or both, it complicates the final deal.

Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- June 4, 2015

Obama just tossed away his last card on Iran’s nukes -- John Podhoretz, New York Post

Iranians warn that distrust could replace sanctions as obstacle to business -- The Guardian

It's the Palestinians who don't want a 2 state solution -- The Commentator

Avoiding Conflict in the South China Sea -- Joseph S. Nye, Project Syndicate

India is building millions of toilets. Getting people to use them is a bigger task. -- Rama Lakshmi, Washington Post

The Truth About Chinese Corruption -- Yukon Huang, The Diplomat

America's Shocking Ignorance of Afghanistan -- Benjamin D. Hopkins, National Interest

Unequal Partners: China and Russia in Eurasia -- Anita Inder Singh, The Diplomat

Ukraine's War Is Back -- Mark Champion, Bloomberg

War flares in Ukraine. Who's lighting the fuse? -- Fred Weir, CSM

Western Defeat in Ukraine -- Roger Cohen, NYT

Ukraine's Next Big Battleground -- John A. Cloud, National Interest

Transnistria shapes up as next Ukraine-Russia flashpoint -- Neil Buckley, Financial Times

How France Let the Charlie Hebdo Killers Go Free -- Daily Beast/ProPublica

Greece delays payment as debt talks falter -- Zeke Turner and Matthew Karnitschnig, Politico

As Greece teeters, fallout for Europe uncertain -- David McHugh, AP

The problem of corruption in sport transcends FIFA and is too serious to ignore -- The Economist