Interim Iran Nuclear Deal Could Be Signed Friday

Kerry Heads to Geneva as Talks Gain Momentum

The latest round of P5+1 talks with Iran on their civilian nuclear program is reported to be on the cusp of a “breakthrough,” as Secretary of State John Kerry is making an unscheduled trip to Geneva to participate.

“The aim of both sides is to sign the agreement,” according to Iran’s chief negotiator Abbas Araqchi, and while a lot of details still need to be worked out an interim deal may well be signed on Friday.

Though details are still scant, the reports of a “six month” deal also appear to be true, and Iranian officials are talking up the idea of getting at least some of the sanctions lifted in this deal.

That’s going to be difficult with Congressional hawks so loudly opposed to any deal with Iran, but the talks seem to have some significant momentum, and Foreign Minister Javad Zarif says he is hopeful about a basic framework being agreed to, leading to an eventual permanent agreement.

Expect much of the early relief to Iran coming in the form of unfreezing assets, as the Obama Administration’s attempts to sell a deal to Israel, and by extension the US Congress, remains a work in progress, and any significant changes in the sanctions themselves will fuel yet more anger about the sudden outbreak of diplomacy.

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.