US President Biden Admits The Iran Nuclear Deal Is Dead But The White House Is 'Not Gonna Announce It'

The 2015 nuclear deal with Iran “is dead, but we’re not going to announce it for a lot of reasons," @POTUS Biden said apparently in a campaign walk-about during November’s Congressional elections, a video of which was shared by @DamonMaghsoudi Tuesday.https://t.co/bUptrStYop pic.twitter.com/qpWBchLSB4

— Iran International English (@IranIntl_En) December 20, 2022

Daily Mail: Leaked footage captures Biden ADMITTING that Obama's Iran nuclear deal is 'dead' but say his administration is 'NOT gonna announce it': Warns Tehran 'WILL have a nuclear weapon' 

* The Biden administration had faced growing pressure from Iranian-American activists and others to cease negotiations with the Iranian government 

* 'We just don't want any deals with the Mullahs. They don't represent us,' one woman told Biden  

* 'I know they don't represent you. But they have a nuclear weapon they'll represent,' Biden shot back  

New video has emerged of President Biden saying that a revised version of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal his White House was brokering is 'dead' and claiming that Iran has a nuclear weapon.  

Biden was meeting with supporters and Iranian activists during a campaign rally with Democratic Rep. Mike Levin in Oceanside, California on November 4. 

As members of the crowd held up cellphones displaying the message 'FREE IRAN,' one woman asked the president: 'President Biden can you please announce that JCPOA is dead? Can you just announce that?' 

'No,' he told her. 'No, why not?' she asked. 'A lot of reasons. It is dead, but we're not gonna announce it,' Biden said.  

The clip was obtained and posted to Twitter by Iranian activist Damon Maghsoudi.  

Read more ....

Update: Does Biden Calling Iran Nuclear Deal Dead Reveal Real US Thinking? (Iran International).  

WNU Editor: This blog has been saying for a long time that the original 2015 nuclear deal is dead. So I am not surprised to hear this admission from the US President, even though he is saying the White House is not going to announce it. Cough cough .... Mr. President, you are the White House and you just officially annoucned it.

The US media and the wire services have yet to report on this story.

Do Not Expect Any More Russian Help On The Iran Nuclear Deal

Image: Presidential Executive Office of Russia  

War On The Rocks: Don’t Expect Any More Russian Help on the Iran Nuclear Deal 

Russia’s position on Iran’s nuclear program has always lagged behind its confrontation with the West. Before the invasion of Ukraine, Moscow actively supported diplomatic efforts to curb Iran’s nuclear ambitions. After the invasion, Russia initially disrupted these efforts, but soon reverted to a more neutral stance. Now, with Moscow becoming ever more dependent on Tehran for economic and battlefield support, Russia’s attitude will likely become increasingly unhelpful. This is bad news for U.S. efforts to restore the Iran nuclear deal and bad news for the cause of global nonproliferation more broadly.  

Read more ....  

WNU Editor: Russia's focus is elsewhere. Helping put together an Iran nuclear deal is not one of them. But Russia is not alone. The U.S. is walking away from putting an Iran nuclear deal right now .... U.S. "not going to waste time" on Iran deal right now, official says (Axios). More here .... Biden’s Iran Envoy Says US Won’t ‘Waste Time’ on Iran Nuclear Deal Talks (Antiwar.com).

U.S. Tells Israel that A Nuclear Deal With Iran Is Off The Table For Now

US President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Yair Lapid meet in Jerusalem, July 14, 2022. (Kobi Gideon/GPO)  

Times of Israel: Nuclear deal with Iran off the table for time being, US has indicated to Israel  

Message conveyed to PM Lapid in recent conversations with Biden and other US officials; Iranian demands to halt IAEA probes appear to have derailed talks 

A new nuclear deal between Iran and world powers is off the table and will not be signed in the foreseeable future, The Times of Israel’s Hebrew sister site Zman Yisrael has learned. 

This is the message that was conveyed to Prime Minister Yair Lapid in his recent conversations with US President Joe Biden and other administration officials. 

This emerging outcome of the nuclear negotiations, which would have major international implications, is likely to be touted by Lapid in the coming election campaign, particularly against opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu, who has repeatedly attacked the premier on the issue.  

Read more ....  

Update #1: Iran deal breakthrough hopes continue to fade (CNN)  

Update #2: Report: US Tells Israel the Nuclear Deal With Iran Is Off the Table for Now (Antiwar.com)  

Update #3: US Tells Israel 2015 Nuclear Deal With Iran 'off The Table': Report (Republic World)  

WNU Editor: They may be telling the Israelis one thing in private, but in public the U.S. position is that a deal is still possible .... WATCH: State Department says U.S. is still pushing for an Iran nuclear deal despite setbacks (AP).

US State Department Says Iran Response On Nuclear Deal 'Not Constructive'

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi sits near a portrait of Supreme Leader Ali Hosseini Khamenei as he speaks during a press conference in Tehran [AFP]  

Al Jazeera: US says Iran’s latest response on nuclear deal ‘not constructive’ 

US and Iran have been trading changes to a ‘final’ proposal to revive the landmark agreement, presented by the EU in early August. 

The United States has called Iran’s latest response in negotiations to revive the 2015 nuclear deal “not constructive”. 

The response came after Iranian state broadcaster IRIB quoted the country’s foreign ministry spokesperson as saying Tehran submitted a text containing “a constructive approach aimed at finalizing the negotiations”.  

Read more ....  

WNU Editor: Apparently there are 3 or 4 points where there is some disagreement. 

US State Department Says Iran Response On Nuclear Deal 'Not Constructive'  

Iran sends nuclear talks response; US casts doubt on offer -- AP  

State Department calls Iran’s response to US final draft proposal to revive nuclear deal ‘not constructive’ -- FOX News 

Iran’s response to nuclear deal ‘not constructive,’ US State Department says -- CNN 

U.S. calls Iran response to nuclear deal plans "not constructive" -- Axios

President Biden And Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid Discuss Emerging Iran Deal In Phone Call

Biden assures Israeli prime minister US won’t allow a nuclear Iran © Provided by The Hill  

Reuters: U.S. will never allow Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon, Biden tells Israel's Lapid 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Joe Biden told Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid on Wednesday the United States will never allow Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon, the White House said, as Tehran seeks stronger guarantees from Washington for the revival of a nuclear deal with world powers. 

Israel opposes a return to the 2015 deal, which imposed curbs on Iran's nuclear weapons program in exchange for the lifting of U.S., European Union and United Nations sanctions on Tehran. 

To Israel's delight, former president Donald Trump pulled out of the deal in 2018 and reimposed harsh sanctions, prompting Tehran to violate the pact's nuclear limits. Biden has vowed to revive the agreement while ensuring the security of Israel, Iran's regional arch foe.  

Read more .... 

President Biden And Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid Discuss Emerging Iran Deal In Phone Call 

Lapid, Biden talk Iran deal as EU says agreement could be days away -- Jerusalem Post  

Biden assures Israeli prime minister US won’t allow a nuclear Iran -- The Hill  

Biden, Lapid discuss ‘shared commitment’ against nukes for Iran -- Al Jazeera  

Biden and Lapid discuss emerging Iran deal in phone call -- Axios

Iran Says It Is Ready To Quickly Release 93 Million Barrels Of Oil Into The Market If A Nuclear Deal With The U.S. Is Finalized

OilPrice.com: Iran Is Ready To Release Millions Of Barrels Of Oil Into The Market 

Iran has considerable volumes of oil in floating storage that it could quickly release should a deal with the United States be finalized. 

In an update earlier this month, OilX claimed that Iran has some 40 million barrels, the bulk of which is probably condensate. 

Vortexa estimates Iranian crude in floating storage at 60 to 70 million barrels while Kpler has estimated them at 93 million barrels, Bloomberg reported on Sunday.  

Read more ....  

Update #1: Iran ready to send 93m barrels of oil into market post sanctions: report -- Tehran Times 

Update #2: Iran May Drain Offshore Oil Cache If Nuclear Deal Reached -- Bloomberg  

WNU Editor: A massive release of this oil onto world markets will result in a major decrease in oil prices for the short term. 

So why the offer now?

 I see this as an attempt by Iran to push the Biden administration to agree to Tehran's terms to reach a deal, and in return Iran will release this oil just weeks ahead of the US midterm elections.

Mossad Chief Calls Emerging Iran Deal A “Strategic Disaster” For Israel

Prime Minsiter Yair Lapid meets with the head of the Mossad David Barnea at the Defense Ministry, Tel Aviv, August 25, 2022. (Prime Minister's Office)  

Times of Israel: Mossad chief says looming Iran deal ‘based on lies,’ is ‘very bad for Israel’ 

Barnea warns pact allows Tehran to amass nuclear material for a bomb within a few years, says his agency ‘is preparing and knows how to remove that threat’ 

Mossad chief David Barnea has called an emerging Iran nuclear deal between the Islamic Republic and world powers “a strategic disaster” for Israel, in recent meetings about the agreement. 

In comments carried by Hebrew-language media Thursday evening, the spymaster said the deal is “very bad for Israel” and the US “is rushing into an accord that is ultimately based on lies,” citing Iran’s ongoing claim that its nuclear activities are peaceful in nature.  

Read more ....

Update #1: Israeli spy chief reportedly slams Iran Deal as 'strategic disaster' (FOX News)  

Update #2: Mossad chief says signing nuclear deal bodes strategic disaster (YNet News)  

WNU Editor: The White House has refused the Israeli PM's request to have a call with President Biden to discuss the Iran nuclear deal .... US said to rebuff request for Lapid-Biden call, Gantz-Austin meet amid Iran push (The Times of Israel).

White House Sends Response To Iran Comments On EU Draft Nuclear Deal

Efforts to revive the so-called JCPOA — the 2015 agreement between world powers and Tehran aimed at curbing Iran’s nuclear ambitions — are at a critical juncture. (File/AFP)  

Politico: U.S. reacts to Iranian comments on draft nuclear deal 

Negotiations appear to be inching toward the finish line. 

VIENNA — The U.S. and Iran are closing in on an agreement to restore the 2015 nuclear deal after almost 17 months of negotiations. 

The United States relayed to the EU on Wednesday its much-awaited response to Iran’s comments on the draft proposal to restore the nuclear deal, a U.S. official familiar with the matter told POLITICO. 

The spokesperson of the Iranian Foreign Ministry Nasser Kanaani confirmed that it had received the U.S. response via EU senior official Enrique Mora, who acts as a mediator and coordinator of the talks. 

Iran still refuses to talk directly with the U.S. “Iran has started reviewing the US comments, and after the review Tehran will submit its views to the coordinator,” Kanaani said.  

Read more ....  

WNU Editor: Details on the U.S. response will be made public later. 

White House Sends Response To Iran Comments On EU Draft Nuclear Deal  

Biden administration responds to Iran’s offer on nuke deal -- AP  

U.S. has responded to Iran's comments on EU nuclear text for revival of pact -State Dept -- Reuters  

US responds to Iran nuclear deal proposal, says pact close, but ‘not there yet’ -- Times of Israel 

Iran receives US response to nuclear deal draft, Lapid decries deal -- Jerusalem Post 

U.S. sends response to Iran comments on EU draft nuclear deal -- Axios

Israel Presses U.S. To Not Restore The 2015 Iran Nuclear Deal

 

Politico: Israelis press U.S. not to rejoin Iran nuclear deal 

But as they near a restoration of the 2015 agreement, Biden administration officials are unlikely to heed the Israeli calls. 

The Israeli government is ramping up pressure on the Biden administration to walk away from international efforts to revive the Iran nuclear deal. 

But the White House isn’t budging. Israeli national security adviser Eyal Hulata visited the White House on Tuesday, where he met with his U.S. counterpart, Jake Sullivan, to raise Israel’s concerns about the latest draft roadmap to a revival of the 2015 agreement.

Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz is due to see Sullivan in Washington on Friday.  

Read more ....  

WNU Editor: It looks like an Iran nuclear deal is a done deal .... U.S., Iran on Nuclear Deal Cusp After Report Says Biden 'Can Accept' Terms (Newsweek). The US is responding to Israel concerns .... Kirby pressed on Israel's concerns over nuclear deal, says Biden 'understands' but plans to move forward (FOX News). 

Israel Presses U.S. To Not Restore The 2015 Iran Nuclear Deal  

Israel in 'last-minute' diplomatic push to halt Iran nuclear deal -- France 24  

Israel Alt-PM Tries 'Last Minute' Push to Stop Biden from Iran Deal Return -- Newsweek 

Israel: Nuclear deal would give Iran $100 billion to destabilise region -- Reuters 

Lapid slams Iran deal: Won't prevent nuclear Iran, gives Tehran $100 billion a year to spread terror -- Times of Israel  

Iran deal won’t meet Biden’s commitment to stop nuclear weapon - Lapid -- Jerusalem Post  

Netanyahu rips Biden over push to revive Iran nuclear deal: Middle East will become 'nuclear powder keg' -- FOX News

EU And Iran Waiting For The U.S. Response On The Iran Nuclear Deal

EU Foreign Policy Chief Borrell  

Reuters: EU's Borrell hopes for U.S. response on Iran nuclear deal proposal this week 

MADRID (Reuters) -The European Union's foreign policy chief said on Monday he hoped the United States would respond positively as early as this week to an EU proposal that aims to save a 2015 nuclear deal with Iran. 

Josep Borrell also said that Iran had given a "reasonable" response to the proposal, which follows 16 months of fitful, indirect U.S.-Iranian talks with the EU shuttling between the parties. The contents of the proposal have not been made public. 

"There was a proposal from me as coordinator of the negotiations saying 'this is the equilibrium we reached, I don't think we can improve it on one side or the other'... and there was a response from Iran that I considered reasonable," Borrell told a university event in the Spanish city of Santander.  

Read more ....  

WNU Editor: Iran is growing impatient (see below):  

Iran Says US Delaying Response in Nuclear Talks (VOA) Iran Accuses U.S. Of Stalling Nuclear Talks; EU Says Meeting Possible (RFE)  

Iran blames ‘procrastinating’ US for nuclear deal delays (Al Jazeera)  

Iran says U.S. moving too slowly in possible return to 2015 nuclear deal (UPI)  

Prisoner swap is unrelated to nuclear deal: Iran (Reuters)

U.S. Officials Calming Israeli Fears Over Possible Iran Nucleara Deal

National Security Council chairman Eyal Hulata (L) and US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan in front of the White House on October 5, 2021. (Jake Sullivan/Twitter) 

Times of Israel: US officials said seeking to calm Israeli fears, insisting Iran deal ‘not imminent’ 

Report says Washington stressing it has made no new concessions to Tehran as talks seem to accelerate, amid ‘difficult’ conversations with Jerusalem 

US officials have in recent days told Israel’s leadership that a new nuclear deal is not imminent and that Washington has not agreed to any new concessions to Iran in order to reach an accord, the Walla news site reported Saturday, citing senior US officials. 

But the report said Jerusalem has not been soothed by such messaging.  

Read more ....  

Update: U.S. tries to reassure Israel over possible Iran deal (Axios)  

Update #2: Israel urges US to reject nuclear deal as Tehran signals willingness to sign (Jerusalem Post)  

WNU Editor: Apparently there are some obstacles to a final deal .... A renewed Iran nuclear deal appears closer than ever. Here are the final sticking points (CNBC).

France's Foreign Minister Says Only A Few Weeks Left To Save The Iran Nuclear Deal

French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna attends a conference on the global food crisis in Berlin, Germany, on Jun 24, 2022. (Photo: John MacDougall/Pool via REUTERS)  

CNA/Reuters: France says only a few weeks left to save Iran nuclear deal  

PARIS: France's new foreign minister said on Tuesday (Jul 12) there were only a few weeks before the window of opportunity to revive Iran's 2015 nuclear deal with world powers would close. 

Speaking to lawmakers, Catherine Colonna said the situation was no longer tenable and accused Iran of using delaying tactics and going back on previously agreed positions during talks in Doha earlier this month, while forging ahead with its uranium enrichment programme.  

Read more ....  

Update: French foreign minister says 'window is closing' on Iranian nuclear deal (FOX News)  

WNU Editor: I will be surprised if there is a deal. There are just too many sticking points. Case in point. Iran is saying that this US position is a deal-killer .... Biden vows to keep Iran's Revolutionary Guards on 'terrorist' list (Middle East Monitor).

Tehran And The EU Say Indirect Nuclear Talks Between US And Iran To Resume 'In Coming Days'

Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian meets with High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell, in Tehran, Iran June 25, 2022. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS  

Reuters: Qatar to host indirect Iran-U.S. talks on reviving 2015 nuclear deal-media 

DUBAI (Reuters) -Qatar will host indirect talks between Iran and the United States in coming days, Iranian media reported on Monday, amid a push by the European Union to break a months-long impasse in negotiations to reinstate a 2015 nuclear pact. 

"Iran has chosen Qatar to host the talks because of Doha's friendly ties with Tehran," Mohammad Marandi, a media adviser to Iran's top nuclear negotiator, told the ISNA news agency. 

A source briefed on the visit said that U.S. Special Envoy for Iran, Robert Malley, was expected to arrive in Doha on Monday and meet with the Qatari foreign minister. 

An Iranian official told Reuters that Iran's chief nuclear negotiator, Ali Bagheri Kani, would be in Doha for the talks on Tuesday and Wednesday.  

Read more ....  

WNU Editor: Tehran is calculating that the Biden administration needs a foreign policy win. 

Tehran And The EU Say Indirect Nuclear Talks Between US And Iran To Resume 'In Coming Days'  

U.S. envoy headed to Qatar to revive Iran nuclear talks -- Politico  

Qatar named as site of indirect talks between Iran and US on nuclear deal -- Times of Israel  

Tehran Says Nuclear Talks to Resume This Week: Iran Snapshot -- Bloomberg 

Nuclear talks between US and Iran to resume 'in coming days', Tehran and EU say -- France 24  

Iran says ‘ball in US court’ for revival of 2015 nuclear deal -- Arab News

With The Removal Of IAEA Cameras, Has Iran Just Dealt A 'Fatal Blow' To Nuclear Talks?

Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), updates journalists about the current situation in Iran as he stands next to an example of a monitoring camera, at the agency's headquarters in Vienna, Austria on June 9, 2022. (JOE KLAMAR / AFP)  

Politico: Iran nuclear deal nears potential ‘fatal blow’ as Tehran removes cameras, watchdog chief says  

Dismantling the cameras poses a ‘serious challenge’ to the work of the International Atomic Energy Agency. 

VIENNA — Iran will remove surveillance cameras from key nuclear sites, the U.N. nuclear watchdog head said Thursday, leaving international observers in the dark and imperiling a deal to limit Tehran’s nuclear ambitions. 

Rafael Grossi, the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), said dismantling the cameras poses a “serious challenge” to the agency’s work in Iran. Speaking to journalists in Vienna, Grossi warned the agency will be unable to maintain a “continuity of knowledge” about Iran’s nuclear program in about three to four weeks.  

Read more .... 

Has Iran Just Dealt A 'Fatal Blow' To Nuclear Talks?  

Iran pulls UN nuke cameras in possible ‘fatal blow’ to deal -- AP  

IAEA warns of 'fatal blow' to nuclear deal as Iran removes its cameras -- Reuters 

Removal of cameras at Iran nuclear sites ‘fatal blow’ to talks, warns UN watchdog -- The Guardian

‘Fatal blow’ to talks: UN nuke watchdog says Iran removing 27 surveillance cameras -- Times of Israel  

IAEA warns of 'fatal blow' to nuclear deal as Iran removes its cameras -- Middle East Monitor 

US warns Iran's recent actions could lead to a 'deepening nuclear crisis' -- CNN

It Looks Like The Iranian Nuclear Deal Is Dead

Bloomberg: Biden’s Iran Envoy Says Nuclear Talks Aren’t Dead But Almost 

(Bloomberg) -- The top U.S. envoy to Iran nuclear talks says efforts to revive the 2015 agreement are faltering but that he believes offering Tehran “limited” sanctions relief could still salvage the accord and provide the basis for a broader deal. 

In testimony prepared for a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on Wednesday, Special Envoy Robert Malley says that a return to the multinational Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action would help keep a lid on Iranian nuclear activity that accelerated after President Donald Trump’s 2018 decision to pull out of the deal despite an array of punishing sanctions. 

Read more .... 

More News On Efforts To Close The Iranian Nuclear Deal 

Biden’s Iran envoy says return to nuclear deal ‘tenuous’ -- The Hill  

Prospects for reviving Iran nuclear deal 'tenuous' at best - US -- Jerusalme Post 

US envoy for Iran says prospects for a return to nuclear deal are 'tenuous at best' -- CNN  

Biden made final decision to keep Iran’s IRGC on terrorist list -- Politico 

Biden to keep Iran’s Revolutionary Guards on terrorist list, Israel claims -- The Guardian  

US: Biden makes 'final decision' to keep Iran's IRGC on terror list, report says -- Middle East Eye 

Iran Deal Has Sunk As Biden Keeps IRGC On Terror List; Tehran "Evaded" Nuclear Inspectors For Years -- Zero Hedge

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken Tries To Reassure Israel And Gulf Arab Allies Ahead Of Possible Iran Deal

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met Sunday with Foreign Minister Yair Lapid of Israel and leaders from four Arab countries in Jerusalem to kick off a trip intended to revive Iran nuclear deal negotiations. Photo courtesy U.S. State Department/Twitter  

NBC News: Blinken Reassures Allies Ahead of Possible Iran Deal 

It remains unclear if or when the nuclear deal will be renewed U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Sunday sought to reassure a wary Israel and its Gulf Arab allies that the Biden administration is committed to their security ahead of the possible renewal of global powers' international nuclear deal with Iran.

Blinken made the comments shortly before joining his counterparts from Israel and four Arab countries at a special gathering where the Iranian nuclear deal was expected to top the agenda. Israel and many of its neighbors are fiercely opposed to the deal, which they believe with embolden and enrich Iran.  

Read more ....  

Update #1: Blinken tries to calm allies ahead of possible Iran deal (AP)  

Update #2: Blinken meets with Israel, Arab nations on Iran nuclear deal (UPI)  

WNU Editor: No one is buying this argument .... Blinken: Nuclear deal the best way to cap Iran nuclear activity (Al Jazeera). And if this Iran demands is accepted, expect even more opposition from Israel and U.S. Arab allies .... Iran Says Deal Hinges on U.S. Removing IRGC From Terror List (Bloomberg).

49 U.S. Republican Senators Say they Will Oppose Iran Nuclear Deal

Antiwar.com: 49 Republican Senators Will Oppose Iran Nuclear Deal  

Opposition comes in spite of details not being public on the deal  

In a sign that getting the P5+1 nuclear deal with Iran through Congress might by difficult, if not impossible, 49 out of 50 Republican Senators have announced they will not back any deal that doesn’t limit Iran’s missile program and “confront Iran’s support for terrorism.” 

The deal isn’t intended to cover those issues, merely Iran’s civilian nuclear program. The terms are not public, but its not expected to touch on either issue. 

Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) was the only senator to not come out opposed. Sen. Paul said it didn’t make sense to condemn an unfinished deal, saying it is “not a very thoughtful position.” It is unclear where Senate Democrats will fall on the deal.  

Read more ....  

WNU Editor: Details on the Iran nuclear deal have not been made public yet. I guess these US Senators have no confidence that this is going to be an acceptable deal.

Major Obstacle To The Iran Nuclear Deal Has Been Resolved

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, right, and Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian shake hands after a joint news conference following their talks in Moscow, Russia, March 15, 2022. (Russian Foreign Ministry Press Service via AP)  

Axios: Lavrov says Russia received "written guarantees" over Iran deal 

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday that Russia had received "written guarantees" from the U.S. that sanctions imposed over the invasion of Ukraine will not impair its nuclear cooperation with Iran.  

Why it matters: Lavrov may be backtracking from a demand he made last week that Russia's trade ties with Iran be exempt from the Ukraine sanctions, and signaling that Moscow won't block a deal from being finalized. 

* Lavrov's demand seriously complicated the nuclear talks in Vienna and led to a "pause" in negotiations just as a deal had appeared imminent. 

* The Russian demand was criticized in several Iranian media reports, though the Iranian government did not blame Russia publicly.  

Driving the news: Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian visited Lavrov in Moscow on Tuesday to try to resolve the issue.  

Read more ....  

WNU Editor: It looks like the Iran nuclear deal is now a go. In the meantime Iran is giving credit to Russia for helping to reach this deal .... Iran credits Russia with 'constructive' role in nuclear talks despite holdups (Al-Monitor). 

Major Obstacle To The Iran Nuclear Deal Has Been Resolved  

Russia Says It Secures US Guarantees Over Its Nuclear Partnership With Iran -- Bloomberg  

Russia says it has written guarantees on Iran nuclear deal -- Reuters  

Russia says US has guaranteed sanctions will not affect its trade with Iran -- Financial Times  

Russia Softens Iran Demands, Re-Opening Way for Nuclear Deal -- WSJ  

Russia says it received US guarantees on Iran nuclear deal -- Times of Israel

Israel Is Saying The The U.S. Will Be Signing A ‘Spectacularly Bad’ Iran Deal Next Week

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, on the right, chairs the weekly cabinet meeting, with Foreign Minister Yair Lapid to his left and Finance Minister Avigdor Lieberman, on Feb 20, 2022. (Photo: Pool/AFP/Tsafrir Abayov)  

Times Of Israel: Israel said readying for signing of ‘spectacularly bad’ Iran deal next week 

TV network cites Israeli security officials warning that revived agreement won’t take into account the nuclear gains Tehran has made since Trump withdrew from the accord in 2018 

Israel is readying for world powers and Iran to reach an agreement next week to revive the deal aimed at curbing the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program, Israeli television reported Friday, despite Jerusalem’s efforts to lobby against a joint US-Iranian return to the multilateral accord. 

Israel opposed the original agreement, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, when it was signed in 2015, with then prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu arguing that it actually paved the path to an Iranian nuclear arsenal. 

The Netanyahu government then backed former president Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw the United States from the deal in 2018 and initiate a “maximum pressure” campaign against Iran, which led Tehran to ramp up nuclear work in violation of the JCPOA. 

US President Joe Biden is now seeking to revive the accord, conditioning doing so on Iran returning to compliance.  

Read more ....  

WNU Editor: The U.S. government has a different opinion .... US rejects Bennett’s criticism of Iran nuke talks: ‘We cannot make the same mistake’ (Times of Israel).

 Israel Is Saying The The U.S. Will Be Signing A ‘Spectacularly Bad’ Iran Deal Next Week  

Israeli PM: New Iran nuclear deal 'weaker' than JCPOA -- DW 

Israel: Iran nuclear deal will result in 'more violent' Mideast -- The Hill  

Israel sees Iran nuclear deal 'shortly,' warns it will be weaker -- France 24  

Israel PM: New Iran nuclear deal coming ‘shortly’ will be ‘weak’ -- Al Jazeera  

Report: Israel Prepares For Biden’s ‘Spectacularly Bad’ Iran Deal Next Week -- Legal Insurrection  

Iran demanding Revolutionary Guards be taken off terror list in nuclear talks: Israeli PM -- Axios  

Israeli PM: Iran nuke deal will bring 'more violent' Mideast -- AP

Over 160 House Republicans Vow To Fight & Block Potential Iran Deal

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) administers the oath of office to House members and delegates of the U.S. House of Representatives at the start of the 116th Congress inside the House Chamber on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., January 3, 2019 (photo credit: KEVIN LAMARQUE/REUTERS)  

Axios: Scoop: House GOP moves to tank Biden's Iran diplomacy 

Nearly 200 House Republicans have written to President Biden warning any nuclear deal made with Iran without Congress' approval "will meet the same fate" as the 2015 agreement by President Obama later abandoned by President Trump. 

Why it matters: The Biden administration has been working feverishly to secure an agreement via indirect nuclear talks in Vienna, but on Wednesday, an Iranian official publicly called for Congress to pledge that the U.S. will stay in a potential deal. 

* The GOP letter — signed by most members of the party that polls say will run the House next year — bluntly rebuffs Iran's request. 

* It also complicates Biden's already-fraught efforts to revive the deal negotiated by the Obama administration and backed by the European Union and U.N. Security Council. 

* The administration sees a return to an agreement as a way of avoiding a nuclear arms race in the already volatile Middle East.  

Read more .... 

Update: Over 160 House Republicans Vow To Fight & Block Potential Iran Deal (Zero Hedge)  

WNU Editor: The US House Republicans are not alone. They have support in the US Senate .... U.S. Republican senators vow to thwart any Iran deal if Biden skips congressional review (Reuters).  

Update #2: Some reports are now saying there is a draft nuclear agreement in the Vienna talks .... Report: Under draft nuke deal, Iran to first cut enrichment to 5%; get $7b in assets (Times of Israel). More here .... Iran nuclear deal draft puts prisoners, enrichment, cash first, oil comes later -diplomats (Reuters).