Iran Won Upfront Sanctions Relief, But With Potential Snags by Gareth Porter

by Gareth Porter
Writer, Dandelion Salad
crossposted at Middle East Eye
Washington, D.C.
April 4, 2015

Image by Scott Campbell via Flickr

Iranian research and development on advanced centrifuges research & development (R&D) remains unresolved

The framework agreement reached on Thursday night clearly gives the P5+1 a combination of constraints on Iran’s nuclear programme that should reassure all but the most bellicose opponents of diplomacy. It also provides the basis for at least a minimum of sanctions relief in the early phase of its implementation that Iran required, but some of the conditions on that relief are likely create new issue between Iran and the Western powers over the process. The agreement’s dependence on decisions by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the penchant of Israeli intelligence for discovering new evidence of illicit Iranian activities will encourage moves to delay or obstruct relief of sanctions.

Gaza Missile Seizure, Netanyhu’s Latest Anti-Iran Joke by Finian Cunningham

by Finian Cunningham
Writer, Dandelion Salad
East Africa
Crossposted from PressTV
March 11, 2014

Comedians say that the art of telling jokes relies on “timing.” Israeli’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the world’s top comic politician, seemed to be proving the point with his “timely” claims about seizing Iranian rockets aboard a cargo ship in the Red Sea.

Statement by the President on the Implementation of the First Step Agreement on the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Nuclear Program

Image by SS&SS via Flickr

Dandelion Salad

Propaganda Alert!

The White House
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release
January 12, 2014

Today’s agreement to implement the Joint Plan of Action announced in November marks the first time in a decade that the Islamic Republic of Iran has agreed to specific actions that halt progress on its nuclear program and roll back key parts of the program. 

Is Iran Being Lured to Shore up US Hegemony in Middle East? by Finian Cunningham

by Finian Cunningham
Writer, Dandelion Salad
East Africa
Crossposted from Strategic Culture Foundation
December 4, 2013

It sounds like an incredible question, but is Iran being lured in order to stabilize US hegemony in the geo-strategically vital Middle East? Yes, that’s right: is Iran being co-opted to, effectively, collaborate with the US in securing Western imperialist interests?

These interests include an accommodation with the oil-rich Persian Gulf Arab monarchies and regime change in Syria.

U.S. Officials Hint at Reservations on Final Nuclear Deal by Gareth Porter

by Gareth Porter
Writer, Dandelion Salad
crossposted at ISP
Washington
November 25, 2013

Image by Eric Bridiers via US Mission Geneva via Flickr

The “first step” agreement between Iran and the United States that was sealed in Geneva over the weekend is supposed to lead to the negotiation of a “comprehensive settlement” of the nuclear issue over the next six months, though the latter has gotten little attention.

But within hours of the agreement, there are already indications from senior U.S. officials that the Barack Obama administration is not fully committed to the conclusion of a final pact, under which economic sanctions would be completely lifted.

Western Arrogance Blocks P5+1 Progress with Iran by Finian Cunningham + P5+1 & Iran agree landmark nuclear deal at Geneva talks

by Finian Cunningham
Writer, Dandelion Salad
East Africa
Crossposted from PressTV
November 23, 2013

Potential failure to reach an interim agreement at the P5+1 negotiations in Geneva this week can be attributed to various factors: The lingering damage to confidence caused by the French spoiler lobbed into the previous round earlier this month; the subsequent lack of commitment by the US to pursue the undoubted progress that had been achieved towards closing a deal; and the intrusive lobbying by Israel and its formidable American supporters in Congress creating unhelpful background tensions.

Make or Break Time for Iran and P5+1 by Finian Cunningham

by Finian Cunningham
Writer, Dandelion Salad
East Africa
Crossposted from Strategic Culture Foundation
November 20, 2013

Never mind “workers of the world unite!” How about just “people of commonsense unite!” This new rallying call acquires cogency this week as the third round of talks gets underway in Geneva between Iran and the sextet of world powers, known as the P5+1, comprising US, Russia, China, Britain and France plus Germany.

Lavrov Reveals Amended Draft Circulated at “Last Moment” by Gareth Porter

by Gareth Porter
Writer, Dandelion Salad
crossposted at ISP
Washington
November 15, 2013

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov revealed a crucial detail Thursday about last week’s nuclear talks with Iran in Geneva that explains much more clearly than previous reports why the meeting broke up without agreement.

Lavrov said the United States circulated a draft that had been amended in response to French demands to other members of the six-power P5+1 for approval “literally at the last moment, when we were about to leave Geneva.”

Iran Guiding World Powers Towards Solution + France Wrecks P5+1 Deal for Arab Money by Finian Cunningham

by Finian Cunningham
Writer, Dandelion Salad
East Africa
Crossposted from PressTV
November 9, 2013

If a diplomatic breakthrough comes from the Geneva talks between Iran and the six world powers, known as the P5+1, it will be largely down to Iranian wisdom and tenacity in facilitating a possible peaceful way out of the Western-imposed nuclear deadlock.

This deadlock over the past decade has inflicted suffering on untold numbers of Iran’s 80-million civilian population through barbaric Western economic sanctions. It has seen countless threats of military attack on Iran issued by the United States.