Negotiations Moving After Historic Week of Diplomacy With Iran

On the radar: A phone call; “Responsibility to pursue diplomacy”; Kerry’s timeline; Gambling and shuffling at STRATCOM; and China tightens exports to North Korea.

September 30, 2013 | Edited by Benjamin Loehrke

History turning - “The presidents of America and Iran spoke directly Friday for the first time since 1979, setting the stage for delicate negotiations that could reshape the two adversaries' relationship,” write Jay Solomon and Carol Lee in The Wall Street Journal. Full story here. http://on.wsj.com/17jDXsk

Obama statement - “I have made clear that we respect the right of the Iranian people to access peaceful nuclear energy in the context of Iran meeting its obligations. So the test will be meaningful, transparent, and verifiable actions, which can also bring relief from the comprehensive international sanctions that are currently in place,” said President Obama after his phone call with President Rouhani on Friday.

--”A path to a meaningful agreement will be difficult, and at this point, both sides have significant concerns that will have to be overcome. But I believe we’ve got a responsibility to pursue diplomacy, and that we have a unique opportunity to make progress with the new leadership in Tehran.” Full statement here. http://1.usa.gov/17jDgzp

Dealmaking - A diplomatic agreement with Iran could be readied within a three- to six-month timeframe, said Sec. John Kerry to CBS’ 60 minutes yesterday. "It's possible to have a deal sooner than that depending on how forthcoming and clear Iran is prepared to be.”

--"Iran needs to take rapid steps, clear and convincing steps, to live up to the international community's requirements regarding nuclear programs, peaceful nuclear programs,” said Kerry. Full story from Reuters. http://reut.rs/19c7p5X

View the segments - “The Secretary of State” John Kerry talks with Scott Pelley about Syria and Iran. 60 Minutes. http://cbsn.ws/18G6qXM

--Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif with George Stephanopoulos on ABC This Week. http://abcn.ws/1bWTOAJ

The hard part - “After years of Iranian dodging and delays, the two sides have set an ambitious timetable for reaching an agreement. The work begins in earnest when Iran and the major powers resume their negotiations in three weeks,” wrote The New York Times in an editorial. Title: “Now, the Hard Part.” http://nyti.ms/16De3Cd

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Poll - “Three-quarters of Americans say they favor direct diplomatic negotiations with Iran in an attempt to prevent that country from developing nuclear weapons” according to a new CNN/ORC poll. http://bit.ly/18kqG2m

Going bigger - ”Obama has to go bigger, much bigger, in making a deal with Iran -- or be prepared for a messy failure.” James Traub offers his perspective of negotiations in Foreign Policy. http://atfp.co/18kNfEa

Tweet - @nukes_of_hazard: Bill Clinton optimistic on Iran: "We can't take their word for it. But we can take them up on it." http://bit.ly/16Zy3t4

Know when to fold em - The second in command at US Strategic Command, Vice Adm. Timothy Giardina, has been suspended amid an investigation that the senior officer used counterfeit gambling chips at a casino. STRATCOM Commander Gen. Robert Kehler recommended that Adm. Giardina be reassigned. http://nyti.ms/18kFIFd

China’s exports to North Korea tighten - Last week, China updated its list of items banned for export to North Korea to include more items that could be used for North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs. Experts suggest this moved shows China’s increasing exasperation with its client North Korea.

--“Now they have to make sure their companies are committed to the export control list...Putting out the regulations itself is not going to slow down the North Koreans,” said Siegfried Hecker of Stanford. Jane Parlez of The New York Times has the report. http://nyti.ms/16Zlzlo

Speed reads:

--”Ban the Blast” by Hungarian Foreign Minister János Martonyi and Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty M. Natalegawa in The Hill. http://bit.ly/18FNZSZ

--”Iraq Ratifies Nuclear Test Ban Treaty” by AFP. http://bit.ly/19Qp1PO

--”Pakistan’s Next Chinese Reactor” by Mark Hibbs at Arms Control Wonk. http://bit.ly/1dS8cIs

Events:

--”An Assessment of Rouhani’s Visit to New York: Real Diplomacy or Failed Expectations?” Discussion with Robin Wright and Meir Javedanfar at the Wilson Center. October 2nd from noon-1:00pm.http://bit.ly/15EFxa1

--”Reversing Iran’s Nuclear Program” Hearing of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee with Testimony from Under Secretary of State Wendy Sherman. October 3rd at 10am in Dirksen 419. Details and webcast. http://1.usa.gov/18FVpYx

--"Russian Foreign Policy in the 21st Century." Former Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov speaks at Georgetown. October 3 at 6:00pm. Details and RSVP. http://bit.ly/19iqOwd

--"Preventing Nuclear War in South Asia: Unprecendented Challenges, Unprecedented Solutions" Discussion with George Perkovich. October 3rd at 6:00pm in Harvard’s NYE Conference Center. Details here. http://hvrd.me/19QnKs5

--”Getting to Yes With Iran” Discussion with George Perkovich. October 4th from 9:30-11:00am at Harvard’s Belfer Center Library. Details here. http://hvrd.me/14XROUt

--50th anniversary of JFK signing the Limited Test Ban Treaty. http://bit.ly/18FCzPa

--”Rethinking U.S. Nuclear Weapons Policy” Discussion with Benjamin Friedman, Christopher Preble and Laura Odato of CATO Institute. Oct. 8th at noon in the Rayburn House Office Building. RSVP here. http://bit.ly/1dS3evw