Iran Nuclear Deal Within Reach, Deadline Looms

October 15, 2014 | Edited by Will Saetren

There for the taking - “Iranian and American nuclear negotiators moved closer to a comprehensive agreement in their recent round of talks,” write Amb. William Luers, Amb. Thomas Pickering and James Walsh in an op-ed for The National Interest. “We believe that [a satisfactory] agreement is in sight....To meet the November 24 deadline, the P5+1 and Iran must hammer out solutions where serious differences remain.”

--“We can still anticipate setbacks and strenuous efforts to derail negotiations by the domestic and international opposition to these negotiations... Both sides know that failure to reach a comprehensive agreement after the collaborative atmosphere that has developed would result in a renewed downward spiral in the relationship... President Obama and President Rouhani know what action they must take to test their hopes. May they have the courage and wisdom to do so.” Read the full column here. http://bit.ly/1u2waH8

Voice of reason - “As talks get underway again in Vienna, many voices are raised against them on Capitol Hill and abroad. But the voice of reason says they should continue until an agreement is reached,” write Representative Rush Holt (D-NJ) and Kate Gould for The Daily Beast..

--“Our diplomats are working toward a realistic accord that focuses on achieving an agreement that will guard against a nuclear-armed Iran. Some in Congress have wanted to tie our diplomats’ hands with onerous conditions for a final agreement. As with any negotiation, what matters in the end is getting the desired outcome, not just scoring points along the way.”

--“Diplomacy with Iran has already made the world a safer place. This new, although tenuous, dialogue with Iran offers real possibilities for change. We have a responsibility to seize the moment, and not let some fearful naysayers here or anywhere else stop these talks that are vital to America’s national interests and, indeed, to world peace.” Read the full column here. http://thebea.st/1sLg8Ge

Deal within reach - “A final deal on Iran’s nuclear program is still possible despite the difficulty of the negotiations,” Secretary of State John Kerry said during a press conference in Paris on Tuesday. “I don't believe it's out of reach, but we have some tough issues to resolve," reports Martin Matishak for The Hill.

--“State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said the U.S. is committed to meeting the next deadline. ‘Let me be clear. November 24th is our deadline. That's where our focus remains and what all of our efforts are,’ she said during a press briefing.” Read the full story here. http://bit.ly/1ruE0qZ

Tweet - @MohsenMilani: My interview with @RezaAkhlaghi abt the P5+1- #Iran nuclear negotiation, #ISIS and US-Iran relations @FPA_ORG http://goo.gl/yPGO92

Hypersonic arms race - Hypersonic weapon delivery platforms “will provide the capability to strike targets anywhere on Earth with little ability to detect or defend against the strike. If deployed in sufficient numbers, they could upset the relative stability believed to exist between major powers due to their ability to survive a nuclear attack and retaliate with a devastating attack of their own,” writes Lieutenant Colonel Jeff Schreiner for Stars and Stripes.

--“The U.S. should weigh the long-term strategic advantages of these weapons against the possible risks that they could destabilize the international system and drive the world into another arms race… We are in the unique position to sound the call for halting this technology. We have the chance to lead the world out of an arms race instead of into one.” Read the full column here. http://1.usa.gov/1zawrzZ

Tweet - @nukes_of_hazard: Think Obama's Secret Service is slipping? Try unauthorized access to US #nuclear weapons! Read @McC_ProNonpro 's post http:// ow.ly/CKUSz

TMI on PMD - Last week an explosion rocked the Parchin military facility in Iran, long suspected of being the site of testing for the possible military dimensions (PMD) of Iran’s nuclear program. The incident has reignited the debate as to whether or not Iran should address the PMD of it’s program. In a column for the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, Ariane Tabatabai argues that doing so would be unwise.

--“Insisting that Tehran open up Parchin to the IAEA again—and come clean on any weapons development there—would only ensure that a nuclear deal does not materialize… Iran has spent more than a decade telling the world, by way of a fatwa issued by its Supreme Leader, that it doesn’t and can’t seek nuclear weapons... Asking Iran to come out and admit that it has sought nuclear weapons would be asking it to admit to having lied, not only to the international community, but also to the Iranian people for more than a decade. This would be embarrassing on the international stage, and delegitimizing domestically.” Read the full column here. http://bit.ly/1scPh33

WMD in Iraq. Really. - During Operation Iraqi Freedom, “American troops secretly reported finding roughly 5,000 chemical warheads, shells or aviation bombs, according to interviews with dozens of participants, Iraqi and American officials, and heavily redacted intelligence documents obtained under the Freedom of Information Act,” writes C.J. Chivers for The New York Times. http://nyti.ms/1rtISwr

--See also: “Is ISIS Using Chemical Weapons?” by Joe Cirincione and Paul Walker in Defense One. http://bit.ly/1Dacvvq

Quick Hits:

--“U.S. nuclear negotiators should stop focusing on Iran's number of centrifuges and should push for a deal,” said Iran's Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani. Article from Reuters. http://reut.rs/ZDJnhv

--“David Greenglass, spy who testified against executed sister, dies at 92,” by Paul Valentine for Stars and Stripes. http://1.usa.gov/1yDEwf5

Events:

--"Solving the Iranian Nuclear Puzzle," featuring Robert Einhorn, Brookings Institution; Elizabeth Rosenberg, Center for a New American Security; and Alireza Nader, RAND Corporation. Part of the Arms Control Association annual meeting. 9:45-11:00 a.m., Oct. 20, at Carnegie Endowment, Root Room, 1779 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington. Register online. http://bit.ly/1vMTI66

--"The Unaffordable Arsenal: Reducing the Costs of the Bloated U.S. Nuclear Stockpile," featuring Tom Collina, Ploughshares Fund. Part of the Arms Control Association annual meeting. 11:00-11:30 a.m., Oct. 20, at Carnegie Endowment, Root Room, 1779 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington. Register online. http://bit.ly/1vMTI66

--Des Browne, former U.K. Defense Secretary, keynote speech. Part of the Arms Control Association annual meeting. Noon-12:55 p.m., Oct. 20, at the Carnegie Endowment, Root Room, 1779 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington. Register online. http://bit.ly/1vMTI66

--"The Future of the Nonproliferation and Disarmament Regime," featuring Assistant Secretary of State Thomas Countryman and Guakhar Mukhatzhanova, Monterey Institute. Part of the Arms Control Association annual meeting. 1:00-1:30 p.m. Oct. 20, At Carnegie Endowment, Root Room, 1779 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington. Register online. http://bit.ly/1vMTI66

--"The Future of U.S. Nuclear Weapons Policy," featuring Rose Gottemoeller, Undersecretary of State for Arms Control and International Security. Oct. 21, 1:30-2:30 p.m., Weber State University, Elizabeth Hall, Room 229, Ogden, UT.” http://bit.ly/ZY1r6B

--"The Future of U.S. Nuclear Weapons,” featuring Rose Gottemoeller, Undersecretary of State for Arms Control and International Security. 1:00-2:00 p.m., Oct. 22, University of Utah, Spencer Hall, Hinckely Caucus Room, 260 Central Campus Drive, Salt Lake City. http://bit.ly/1w0diMc

--"Debate: Should the United States Cut its Nuclear Arsenal?" Featuring Adam Mount, Council on Foreign Relations; Tom Collina, Ploughshares Fund; Matthew Kroenig, Georgetown University; and Thomas Moore, Wilson Center. Oct. 23, 6:00-8:00 p.m., George Washington University, Room B17, 1957 E St. NW, Washington. RSVP online. http://bit.ly/1w0dQSi