Obama Aide Predicts Another ‘Interim’ Deal With Iran

Doubts a Final Deal Can Be Reached Any Time Soon

In comments that seem intended to dim hopes for an outright rapprochement with Iran, Obama aide Gary Samore has pushed the idea that instead of reaching a final settlement with Iran on its civilian nuclear program, “we’re in for a rolling series of extensions” of the interim deal.

Samore’s comments drew immediate calls for more sanctions from Congressional hawks, who saw it as proof that the talks are just “stalling” for time, even though neither Iran nor seemingly anyone else involved in the talks has even suggested the interim deal was eligible for extension.

The pessimism in Samore’s comments seems to be putting the cart way before the horse too, since the P5+1 talks with Iran on a final deal haven’t even started yet, so obviously can’t even theoretically be stalled beyond hope.

Secretary of State John Kerry’s comments over the past two days, threatening war and demanding a whole bunch of new concessions from Iran also suggest that the US isn’t necessarily going into the talks with a serious intention of reaching a deal, but the momentum for Iran’s rapprochement is so strong that the US may be dragged, kicking and screaming, into peace.

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.