Kerry Threatens Iran Ahead of Upcoming Talks

US 'Prepared' to Allow Diplomacy, But Demands Quick Results

With P5+1 talks with Iran just two weeks away, Secretary of State John Kerry took a little time out of his schedule to threaten Iran, insisting that while the US is “prepared to talk” with Iran at the meeting they will take no option off the table, including military force.

Kerry went on to insist that Iran has to address all US concerns or it would face further isolation and other unspecified actions, adding that the US will do “whatever it takes” to stop their nuclear program.

Iran’s existing nuclear program is entirely civilian in nature, a fact the IAEA has repeatedly confirmed. That the IAEA cannot conclusively disprove the notion of a secret secondary program operating entirely separately and located somewhere totally unknown, however, leaves the US deciding Iran hasn’t answered “all questions.”

Every round of P5+1 talks begins with a 2-3 week preface of US officials threatening Iran and adding more onerous demands right before the meeting. It then follows with condemnation of Iran for refusing the deal or, on the one occasion Iran accepted a US proposal, with the US withdrawing the offer and condemning Iran for accepting it.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.