Iran Deal Reached

After several months of negotiations, Iran and the P5+1 have come to terms on a nuclear deal. The deal sets limits on the Iranian capacity for centrifuges, reducing them by two thirds, and places a 15 year restriction on enriching uranium beyond 5%. Under the deal Iran will also be obligated to allow IAEA inspectors…

Iran: Talks Extended Until July 7

The US State Department and the Iranian Foreign Ministry announced that negotiations related to its nuclear program will be extended until July 7. Reports related to the talks indicate that progress has been made and that the sides are “nearing” a deal. This in mind, there appears to be some ambiguity regarding the parameters of…

Iran Deal: Extensions likely as talks get down to wire

Another extension on negotiations looks like the most likely outcome for continued nuclear talks between the P5+1 Powers (Germany, Russia, China, the US, France, and Britain) and Iran. With the deadline approaching tonight at 12 am – Iran’s top negotiator Abbas Araqchi reported back to Tehran on Sunday to discuss new terms with Supreme Leader…

Iran: Western Oil Majors Meet with Government in Tehran

Representatives from several Western oil majors including Royal Dutch Shell and Eni recently held meetings with Iranian officials in Tehran. The meetings are the first of their kind following the tentative Iranian nuclear framework deal, and demonstrate the existing level of interest in the Iranian nuclear program. According to Shell representatives, the recent meetings revolved…

Iran: Deadline approaches, Rouhani tries to limit inspections

As the June 30 deadline looms for a final nuclear deal framework that will allow Iranian sanctions to be lifted, President Hassan Rouhani expressed his optimism in the current situation, saying a deal was “within reach.” However, two issues remain thorny for nuclear deal pessimists, in particular the wording of Rouhani’s tentative endorsement of inspections…

Iran: France Threatens Veto if Total Nuclear Access Not Granted

In a speech last week, Iranian Ayatollah Ali Khamanei publicly ruled out the possibility of IAEA inspections at Iranian military sights, and stated that Iranian nuclear scientists would similarly be unavailable to IAEA personnel. Since then, Iran has softened its position to allow for “managed access” to its facilities. However, these statements reportedly contrast with…

Iran: US Senate Rejects Republican Bill

The United States senate rejected an effort that would have made mandatory any treaty brokered with Iran to be considered an “international treaty.” If it had passed, the provision would have made any deal’s ratification dependent on a two-thirds vote by the US senate. The measure was proposed by a number of Republican senators and…

Iran: Accord Reached, Critiques Commence

A deal setting out the framework of a historic accord between Iran and the P5+1 has been agreed upon in Switzerland. While the final agreement has not been signed and negotiations are expected to go on until the end of June with that end in mind, the initial reaction was optimistic. The presidents of Iran…

Iran Deal: Framework Deal is announced

The long-awaited deadline for the prospective nuclear deal between Iran and the P5+1 Powers has come and gone, but negotiations have continued. The US State Department reported that “enough progress” had been made to merit working through this deadline, but despite the optimism, there is no sign that the most contentious issues have been resolved.…