Iranian President Hassan Rouhani spoke to parliament today, saying he has no intention of holding bilateral talks with President Trump, and that Iran never responded to Trump’s calls for talks.
Rouhani noted that Iran has only one condition for bilateral talks, and that it has long been clear. They insist the US lift all sanctions imposed since withdrawing from the nuclear deal, and return to the situation under the deal.
Other Iranian officials have made similar comments to European leaders, saying they want the EU to try to convince the US to rejoin the nuclear deal, and that this would solve everything. The US, so far, has never commented on that.
Details are scant on any leaning toward talks, though some on both sides have suggested a “window of opportunity.” Despite this, analysts say that actual talks are highly unlikely to ever take place.
“Honor your own signature and then we’ll talk.”…sounds reasonable to me.
*shrug*
It was only 0bama’s signature,
no senate ratification, and he’s gone.
Meanwhile, the rest of the ME sees Iran getting away with going nuclear, so they will also.
What could go wrong?
https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2019-09-04/erdogan-stuns-saying-turkey-may-need-nuclear-weapon
Well, not quite. Iran deal was made into ratified deal by the vote in UN SC. US voted for it and resolution passed. Now we are in violation. European signatories are acting dumb, as they SHOULD be taking Irans processed fuel for reprocessing. But they do nit — and are acting doubly dumb, by being “concerned” about Iran’s stockpiling! Everybody except Russia and China are violating agreement.
It seems to me that the whole thing is about taking Iran off the energy market. But in spite if both Iran and Venezuela being out — prices of energy are not climbing, making it impossible for fracking products to come even close to covering their expenses. How much longer will banks be willing (forced) to roll over debts?
Well, not quite, yes it was completed through a UN SC vote, but it contained a exit clause, that Trump chose to execute.
The US is not in violation. The US exercised it’s exit per the stipulations in the agreement.
The Euro’s, typically, are ignoring the Iranian threat for their own profits.
The “deal” did not prevent Iran from moving toward nuclear capability and ICBM delivery systems, it was a sham.
Turkey, Egypt and the Saud’s know this and will eventually, nuke up in response.
As I said, what possibly could go wrong with a nuclear armed ME?
Re. the oil markets, more Iranian (indeed Venezuelan) oil would be just fine, we could shutter our fracking for a later date.
A world supplied with cheap, abundant oil is the goal, with or without fracking
Ask Israel?
Irrelevant.
The only nuclear weapons nation in the Middle East is totally relevant.
Yes. Are they singing “Death to Iran” in the streets, no.
Do they preach destroying Iran, no.
So they are irrelevant.
They are not a party to the JCPOA,
like Pakistan and India they are irrelevant.
Now Iran lining up to get them and Turkey making noise to do the same, that is relevant.
You must believe any war propaganda you read, don’t you? The people “in the streets” don’t have control of weapons, anymore than the people in the streets of San Francisco or Los Angeles have control of our establishment weaponry. Now explain why Iran has one of the largest Israeli (can’t use the word I want to) populations in Tehran than any of our “wonderful” Sunni allies do.
The fact is, I’m using your rationale for why Sunni nations would want nuclear weapons, that you just stated earlier, and applying it to the biggest aggressor in the Middle East, who just happened to bomb Lebanon, Syria, and their own people, just recently.
But, you are correct that Israel is not party to the nonproliferation treaty, which makes them even more of a renegade nuclear power
Israel is a democratic state,
threatened by theocratic warmongers.
That’s the difference.
The govt of Iran is the author of “Death to Israel”,
it’s not the other way around.
You must believe any war propaganda you read, don’t you? The people “in the streets” don’t have control of weapons, anymore than the people in the streets of San Francisco or Los Angeles have control of our establishment weaponry. Now explain why Iran has one of the largest Jewish populations in Tehran than any of our “wonderful” Sunni allies do.
The fact is, I’m using your rationale for why Sunni nations would want nuclear weapons, that you just stated earlier, and applying it to the biggest aggressor in the Middle East, who just happened to bomb Lebanon, Syria, and their own people, just recently.
I do not know of any clause that US used to get out of UN SC Resolution it voted for. If you know the clause, let me know.
Iran was in no violation at the time US abandoned the deal. It was certified by IAEA.
As for missiles, please. No missiles are part of the Agreement, and to suggest that Iran should be the only country not allowed to have missile technology is beyond absurd. After banning missiles, what is next? Ban rifles, knives, bow and arrow? As much as I dislike the rise of out if control military destructiveness — in the absence of security guarantees by big powers to smaller countries — everyone will try their best to arm themselves, to prevent being next Iraq.
Missiles were not in the Agreement, so it is merely a noise.
Having said that, the deal was not a good one from US perspective. And there, Trump WAS right. Why was it bad? Because US essentially allowed Iran to walk away with a “win” without anything concrete gained in return.
And what the deal lacked were EXPLICIT Iranian economic (read, energy) concessions. True, Trump was right — WAS being the operative word. He fails consistently to level with Americans, and the reason is simple — Israel and globalist supporters. What he should have said is as follows.
Fellow Americans, Obama administration signed the deal without explicit guarantees for US economic interests. By leaving it out — Obama knew exactly that our domestic politics is such that would prevent US companies to engage in business with Iran. Basically, US business continued boycotting Iran — while European companies jumped in. French Total got lucrative deals in energy, etc. So, how to change this? Negotiating? Impossible — that would mean being weak on Iran. So, let’s get out if it.
By breaking the deal and reintroducing sanctions — European companies had to abandon their commercial deals, and US is having the chance to start from scratch.
“Maximum pressure”, was meant to speed up the process. But Iran knows what Trump knows — that there is constituency in US. not interested in such piddly goals as economy. Those want US to press on with wars to secure global domination.
A win in Iran would tell the world that there are NO challengers to US quest for dominance. An urgency is attached to this ever since Russia entered Syria and has increased its diplomacy in the Middle East.
Thus, Trump had to appease the globalist crowd and embellish his “bad deal” approach with absurdities like linking Iran to terrorism, to other irrelevant conflicts or militias like Yemen, Syria, Iraq and Lebanon.
Having embellished it, now he is pushed step by step into geopolitical struggle, to elevate Iran issue even above regional concern into a global one. And he knows it, but this is a powerful constituency he must keep from turning against him.
Trust Trump not going to be predictable. With Trump using Macron as a go between, a deal is apparently offered to Iran. This brought out of shadows all the formidable influence regiments in US and Europe to kill the chance of a deal. They had to expose themselves, and cannot count on Trump’s favors any more.
As a US president who did so much for Israel you would think that he would be trusted to negotiate a deal with Iran that would not harm Israel? Of course, but this is only partly the issue. The issue is, Israel’s supporters and global domination crowd are virtually indistinguishable. They want Iran subjected to Iraq scenario, militarily defeated and not be given a chance to stabilize. In that scenario — getting access to Iran’s resources, as well as blackmailing Iraq and Kuwait by controlling Gulf — Middle East would get the message and restructure accordingly.
I think Trump will try to PUNT this one till after elections, and the deal drama is here to give Trump campaign options. He can say on the trail that he wants a deal and calm fears of bring a warmonger.
But globally times have changed, and the global domination crowd does not want to hear it. Chief targets, Russia and China have come close like two coats of paint. There are issues with US military, especially US defense (real defense) strategy, as well as obvious ramifications of US inability to invest in developing world — leaving plenty of space to others to invest. And with it come doubts about US global leadership.
The leadership is in trouble. If US cannot secure domination and the resulting acquiescence of other powers — then it needs to provide a new type of leadership. US could endeavor to forge a global security pact eliminating the need for weaker to try to protect themselves from global players pulling them into their orbit.
The problem is, Israel’s supporters / /globalist objectives and US interests are getting further and further apart. The absolute belief in imminent US dominance of the globe is informing all of their thinking. They are closed to anything else.
Trump’s occasional diversion into sovereignty is annoying to globalist/no borders crowd. Empires do not like borders nor sovereign entities. So, Trump is labeled isolationist, nationalist, racist — anything to back off from any thoughts of national interest. Because once he gets any traction internationally — he would be dangerous to globalist agenda. This is why Russia has to be kept off the reservation, as any global deal would seriously damage their agenda.
Trump is applying “Iran” model everywhere where the globalists would crucify him for peacefully negotiating. By getting out of arms control deals, tearing US-China trade deals into shreds — he is starting from scratch, and nobody can accuse him of weakness. A very treacherous route, but for a gridlock strangled nation — may be the only way.
So, the world must become an unstable and dangerous place before it pulls from the brink and starts talking. In Bibi’s world that should not happen — in his zeal he thinks that US global victory is just around the corner, by breaking Iran.
As for others getting nuclear technology— it is logical. But not because Iran is getting away with something, but because US is telling them they are next. This is why Turkey already has nuclear power plant, Egypt has a contract in place, and Saudis are looking for no less then 15.
To repeat — in the absence of US global leadership in forging a consensus by giving security guarantees to regional leaders — US is telling everyone that only complete obedience is acceptable, or else.
This is the reason I believe Iran will be defended by other powers. Unfortunately for Trump his inability or unwillingness to articulate the difference between globalist unilateral empire building and a leadership of confederation of sovereign nations.
But here is the question. Can US be a leader? We know that Europe cannot. It is still hostage to colonial mentality. US, however, has been thoroughly infused by Trotskyites, the neocon predecessors. This created the ideology of global dominance, a revolutionary “democratization” in a classical Trotskyite model — a narrative that cannot be challenged.
I ardently hope global energy starts flowing. To stop fracking before it bankrupts us.
The evidence says that Iran is — and for at least the last 16 years, has been — only “going nuclear” in the sense of producing electricity.
And the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action is a UN Security Council resolution binding on all UN member states. That includes the US and Iran, both of which are in violation of it.
Unfortunately, since the US has veto power on the UNSC, it won’t be held to account for its violations.
Fortunately, since Russia, China, France and the UK also have veto power on the UNSC, Iran won’t either.
Tom we have already adjudicated this. The JCPOA contains a clause allowing signatory countries to end their participation. Trump followed it’s proscription and departed from it, legally.
Like it or not leaving the “plan” was perfectly legal under the guidelines provided within the agreement.
The JCPOA contains a clause allowing signatory countries to take measures in response to non-compliance by other countries. That’s not the same thing as “ending participation.”
But thanks for pointing out that Iran’s response to the US’s violation of the deal may be compliant with the deal rather than another violation of it.
In fact not one country even signed the JCPOA.
It was little more than a gentleman’s agreement.
Ever buy a car, … without signing anything?
If Iran is “Getting away with going nuclear” they would only be copying Israel which got away with going nuclear right under our helpful noses.
Israel is not an aggressor against Islamic states,
while the reverse is quite true. Particularly Iran.
Is that why Israel is the one who attacks Islamic states routinely.
….especially before elections>
Hezbollah in Lebanon,
Iranian troops in Syria and Iraq are offensive threats to Israel.
If Iran was not a theocratic dictatorship,
incessantly calling for the destruction of Israel
there would be no need for defensive attacks by Israel.
But Iran has made the situation volatile.
Bibi the Trump Whisperer will never let that happen. Mr. Money Bags, Sheldon Adelson, will never let that happen. Crazy Christian Zionists like Pence and Pompeo will never let that happen.
Trump has surrounded himself with Likudniks and Zionists and isn’t his own man anymore. They determine US foreign policy and expect him to follow along… or, else. It is a vain hope that he will suddenly turn around and bite the hand that feeds him.
Rouhani should have never even hinted at agreeing to any kind of talks. Not just for the good of Iran but for the rest of the world also. It’s hard to imagine that our belligerence could get much worse but if we think sanctions “work” our behavior will worsen.
Regardless what happens Empire comes out on the losing end. Iran will continue importing oil sanctions or no sanctions.
I wholeheartedly agree with you, Rocket Man. No matter what happens the Empire comes out on the losing end .. Iran will definitely continue importing oil, sanctions or no sanctions. This is because warmongers Pence, Pompous Pompeo and Bonkers Bolton are thirsty for war.
Heh, Eileen, don’t you even proof what you copy ? Iran does not import oil….Eileen ? You there ?
Regardless what happens Empire comes out on the losing end. Iran will continue importing oil sanctions or no sanctions.
Not gonna happen. Nice to see that Iran is the only rational one who can make a clear statement of rational policy – while the Orange Mophead can only bumble around on Twitter and contradict himself twice a day.
What has Iran ever done to the USA? Where does all this irrational hostility come from? How can we pretend to be the “Leader of the Free World” if we behave like spiteful, mean spirited warmongers who walk on the leash of the pro Israel lobby in our country and Netanyahu’s blatant desire to get reelected in September. This is so embarrassing!!