Obama: Chances of Reaching Nuclear deal “Less Than 50-50”

“Iran is ready to strike a fair and balanced deal and prepared to open new horizons to address the shared challenges of far greater magnitude”, Zarif wrote. Support for the Iranian regime and hostility toward the United States among the Iranian population would nearly certainly increase.

The hearing was held amid ongoing negotiations in Vienna between Iran and six major powers – Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia, and the United States – on Iran’s nuclear program.

Members from both sides say they want to carefully review the details of any deal, but how Iran interprets those details will also be critical. It is clear Iran is not sincerely negotiating with the West. Instead, it’s playing the same administration that negotiated with the Taliban, trading five of theirs doing time at Guantanamo for one deserter.

“What will be left of our revolution, of our position in the Islamic world if we start relations with a country devoted to oppressing us and many others?” asked Alireza Mataji, an organizer of anti-American rallies.

And the Maryland representative expressed reservations about continuing talks with Iran.

“It is absolutely vital that any Security Council resolutions lifting sanctions contain a robust mechanism for the rapid reinstatement of sanctions if Iran fails to comply with any relevant obligations completely and verifiably”, Sasse said in his letter to the president. In April, when the administration rolled out the initial framework of a nuclear agreement, top Iranian officials quickly contradicted numerous details. “We can get a deal but we should take the time to get there”.

The negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program were extended again on Tuesday, and Republican critics of the talks see the delay playing to their advantage. No agreement would mean no restrictions on Iranian nuclear development and in that sense would be even worse than a “bad” agreement. They are interested in solving the nuclear issue – but on Iran’s terms. “What the president is doing-quite clearly, actually-is announcing that the United States is out of the containment business as traditionally understood”.

But Republicans point to Schumer’s history as a fierce Israel ally-and his self-described identity as a shomer, or guardian of Israel-and hope to pry the Senate Democrats’ main message man from his party.

“Anti-Americanism is a pillar of our system”, said Nader Karimi Joni, a reformist journalist.

“Our enmity with them is over principles and rooted in the fact that we are after the truth and nations’ freedom, but they seek to exploit nations and put them in chains”, he added.

“I can tell you that there were no vegan options, so I’m going to have to complain to my congressman”, said Booker, who adopted a plant-based diet previous year.