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Iran Eases Key Demand In Nuclear Talks, Boosting Chances For A Deal

Iran Eases Key Demand In Nuclear Talks, Boosting Chances For A Deal

By Paul Richter, Tribune Washington Bureau

VIENNA — Iran is easing a key demand in negotiations with world powers over its disputed nuclear program, boosting prospects for the top-priority agreement that diplomats are racing to finish within a month.

Abbas Araqchi, Iran’s deputy foreign minister, acknowledged amid a week of negotiations in Vienna that Tehran now accepts the principle that as part of the deal sanctions on its economy would be gradually eased as Iran gradually complies with limits on its nuclear activities.

Iran’s official line has been that it would require an immediate lifting of all of the sanctions at the time the deal is signed. The economic penalties have choked off its oil exports and limited its trade, and the Iranian government needs to have them lifted as soon as possible to help restore its teetering economy.

“It’s a big deal,” said Cliff Kupchan, an Iran specialist at the Eurasia Group risk consulting firm. “Iran is recognizing that lifting sanctions will be tough and take time here. Araqchi’s statement lifts one barrier, a significant one, to a deal.”

Iranian and Western officials continue to stress that many differences remain between the two sides, led by disagreements over how much sensitive nuclear equipment Iran could retain under the deal.

Yet the two sides appear to have resolved several issues that at one time looked like deal-breakers.

They have apparently agreed that the Arak heavy-water nuclear reactor will be modified in a way that will limit its production of plutonium, a potential nuclear bomb fuel.

They appear to be closing in on a compromise under which Iran would transform a bomb-resistant underground uranium enrichment facility at Fordo into a research center acceptable to the West.

Both the Iranians and the Obama administration are under powerful political pressure not to accept a deal that gives away too much.

But they both badly need an agreement. President Barack Obama wants to defuse pressure to consider a military strike on Iran, and the Iranian administration could lose all influence if it fails to deliver the sanctions relief Iranians are demanding.

The phased elimination of sanctions is complex because of legal, technical and political issues. Diplomats have conferred with technical experts on it in this week’s sixth negotiating session, which began Monday and is expected to adjourn Friday.

One of the key issues is how to win the cooperation of Congress in lifting the sanctions. Congress has resisted eliminating sanctions of any kind, and many lawmakers are deeply suspicious that the Obama administration’s deal could be too lenient.

But the administration might overcome this challenge by initially lifting some of the sanctions by executive action, and later urging Congress to do its part once Iran has established a record of cooperation with the deal, said Ray Takeyh, an Iran specialist at the Council on Foreign Relations.

“Their argument would be to the Hill that you don’t want to disrupt a successful arms control agreement,” said Takeyh. “The administration has probably assured (Iran) that this is the most plausible way of getting congressional assent” for sanctions relief.

Araqchi’s comments were made to a group of Iranian journalists late Tuesday night.

The two sides appeared to reach an impasse in a meeting in Vienna last month, which ended with U.S. and Iranian officials warning each other that they needed to make major compromises to keep the talks alive.

Araqchi told the journalists that he expected the two sides to begin on Wednesday assembling the text of a deal, which he said could probably still have a hundred disputed points.

Nevertheless, the Iranian team has been notably optimistic at the meeting, saying they still hope to reach an agreement by the July 20 deadline. At the same time, they have acknowledged that may not be possible.

The diplomats are saying they may schedule their next meeting in early July and might even stay at the bargaining table for three weeks straight to complete the deal.

Deputy Secretary of State William J. Burns, who took part in a meeting with the Iranians and European Union officials Monday, has left Vienna. He discussed the nuclear negotiations, and also spoke to the Iranians on the sidelines of the meeting about cooperation on the crisis in Iraq, which threatens the U.S.- and Iranian-backed central government.

In his comments, Araqchi said that if the countries need to seek an extension of the negotiating deadline beyond July 20, it would create problems for the Obama administration. Though he didn’t explain why, he presumably meant because U.S. lawmakers could try to block further talks.

Takeyh, of the Council on Foreign Relations, said Araqchi may be expressing optimism because he believes the U.S. needs to complete the deal within a month and for Tehran’s help on Iraq gives Iran extra leverage.

Araqchi insisted that there were no “negotiations” between Burns and the Iranians over U.S.-Iranian military cooperation in Iraq. But he said it was only natural that officials would discuss a crisis that has stirred wide concern in the region.

AFP Photo/Fabrice Coffrini

Jobless Demand End To Pay-Per-View Town Hall Meetings

Several Republican members of Congress, fed-up with being grilled on their plans to privatize Medicare and other controversial Tea Party measures, are exclusively holding pay-per-view town halls, where attendance will cost you. The response from their constituents has only been to increase the volume.

Paul Ryan, architect of the Republican plan to to shift Medicare to a voucher system that has hurt the GOP in some special election races since it passed the House this spring, is among those sick of regular old free democracy:

Ryan will appear at a late August event where voters can pay $15 to have lunch with the congressman. Those who register in advance, providing their names and background information and writing their checks, might even get to ask their congressman a question.

That’s fine for the pay-to-play crowd.

But the folks on fixed incomes who are most threatened by Ryan’s proposed assaults on Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security will have to decide whether they can afford to be citizens. Some of them decided Thursday that Ryan’s price was too high. A group of unemployed workers staged a sit-in at his Kenosha office, while others protested outside, chanting “Ryan is a no-show, bring jobs to Kenosha.” The message from one of the largest cities in the district was blunt: “After being denied a meeting with Ryan after multiple requests over the last few weeks, the unemployed men and women have decided to sit down and wait for Congressman Ryan.”

Emulating Ryan’s avoidance of critics are Reps. Ben Quayle (R-AZ), Chip Cravaack (R-MN), Lou Barletta (R-PA) and Renee Elmers (R-NC). All seem intent on making it as difficult as possible to register protest to a Tea Party agenda that is failing to catch on with the electorate.

“These pay-per-view town halls make it perfectly clear who GOP members of Congress think they’re working for. If you’re a major donor or a big corporate supporter, the Republicans in Congress are willing to bend over backwards to make sure you get your way. If you’re an ordinary citizen who wants to have your voice heard, tough luck,” Michael B. Keegan, president of People for the American Way, told The National Memo Friday. His group has been active in corralling support for traditional town halls that are, you know, free.

“The right to petition your representatives isn’t accidental to system of government—it’s spelled out in black and white in the First Amendment. It’s a tremendously important part of democracy. The worst possible outcome would be for this to become the norm, so we’re making sure that our activists hear about this trend and that members of Congress hear from activists.

“Congressman Paul Ryan is charging people to attend town halls to hear what he has to say and have a chance to ask a question. Congressmen Ben Quayle and Chip Cravaack aren’t even hosting town halls themselves — they’re attending events hosted for them by friendly organizations with a fee for attendance. This amounts to nothing less than pay-per-view government as the Republicans try to privatize democracy.”