As Iran Nuclear Deal Progresses, Parties Threaten to Walk Away

Europeans threaten to leave if no deal by Monday

Vienna talks aimed at restoring the P5+1 nuclear deal with Iran seem to have reached their obvious conclusion, with the details all pretty well worked out and success waiting to be had, if any side still wants it.

It isn’t clear anyone is going to end up being on board, however, as multiple parties are now openly threatening to just walk away from the process, seemingly out of spite, as tensions and general acrimony trump the nearness of the deal everyone previously thought they wanted.

This originally took the form of the US warning of deadlines, which at the time Iran was spurning. Now with high hopes for a deal this week, European nations say they are prepared to withdraw from the process Monday if nothing gets reached.

With tensions just generally on the rise because of Ukraine, many think that blowing up the Iran deal would be a great way to show off their natural intransigence. Even Iran seems ready to withdraw, saying the deal is there to be had and they’re not going to wait forever for the US to make up its mind.

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.