Iranian President Hassan Rouhani leaves after delivering a speech at plenary session during the Asian African Conference in Jakarta April 22, 2015. Reuters/Beawiharta/Files
Reuters: Iran won't allow nuclear inspections to jeopardise state secrets - Rhouhani
(Reuters) - Iran's President Hassan Rouhani said on Saturday he would not put state secrets at risk in the country's nuclear negotiations, becoming the latest senior official to express reservations about intrustive inspections sought by world powers.
The question of inspectors' access to Iran's nuclear sites and military bases is a major sticking point in the nuclear negotiations between Iran and world powers, which are aiming to strike a deal by June 30.
"Iran will absolutely not allow its national secrets to fall into the hands of foreigners through the Additional Protocol or any other means," Rouhani said in a televised news conference, referring to a mechanism that would allow for more intrusive inspections of Iranian sites.
WNU Editor: The Iranian President also believes that an agreement is near .... Iran's Rouhani says final nuclear accord with world powers is 'within reach' (FOX News/AP)
Update #1: Iran's Rouhani says extension of nuclear talks possible - live TV -- Reuters
Update #2: Iran talks may continue past deadline -- CNN
3 comments:
I don't think that the people who would make the final decision on this really care whether they get an agreement or not. By keeping the negotiations going while claiming an agreement is close allows both sides the chance to stifle criticism of their policies. Iran either has the bomb or is very close and will get it, agreement or not, proceeding on in the view the US will not strike militarily and will actively deter Israel from military action under the guise of not upsetting negotiations. Criticism from Congress can be muted likewise. once there is an agreement then your enemies have a definite target to go after, until then by keeping things secret the participants can claim almost anything about it. By the way way I think the principal negotiators (Kerry etal) themselves think it's a real thing and so are an unwitting part of the show.
James .... your observation on how the diplomacy (and politics) is being played out is probably right. The politics .... citing progress while keeping everything secret .... the White House has been playing this game consistently for the past few years .... and very effectively. What I find interesting is the diplomacy .... Kerry is definitely no Henry Kissinger or George Shultz, but what is scary is that someone like John Kerry probably believes that he is a far better as a nuclear negotiator than they ever were .... and to him the process is far more important than the details of what a final nuclear agreement may contain. This is a mark departure from the past. Take the case of US Sec. of State George Shultz in his nuclear talks with the Soviets .... I was told by people that I know who were involved in those talks that he (probably also following the direction of Reagan) could not care less about the process .... what they were focused were the details of the agreement, and how to verify it without conditions. Today .... to Kerry it is all about the process .... details will be worked out later .... verification will be worked out later .... etc. etc. etc.
To use the famous saying, as far as these talks are concerned, whether it's the process or the supposed result "there is no there there".
Post a Comment