Putin, Rouhani discuss nuclear and security cooperation

JNS.org – Tens of thousands of Christians signed on to a global petition organized by the worldwide Christian Embassy Jerusalem (ICEJ) urging world powers involved in the Iranian nuclear negotiations to take a firm line with Iran. Putin said Iran would probably increase its oil production once the curbs are lifted. Every public event – the annual anniversary of the revolution, parliamentary elections, military parades – provides another opportunity to pound away at the official message of the founder of the Islamic Republic, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, that “America needs to be punched in the mouth”. The protracted talks have centered on significantly downsizing Iran’s nuclear program, which, the West claims is focused on manufacturing nuclear weapons.

Would enhanced economic sanctions cause Iran to abandon its nuclear program? But the text contains many brackets highlighting areas of dispute.

Against this backdrop, the most hard challenges facing the seven delegations in Vienna pertain to the drafting of a prospective UN Security Council resolution that would nullify previous resolutions authorizing worldwide sanctions against Iran and formally start implementation of a final deal.

Russian Federation and China, which have never hidden their dislike of sanctions, had indicated they would support the termination of the arms embargo on Iran and United Nations missile sanctions, both of which date back to 2006. Iran is pushing for an end to a United Nations arms embargo on the country but Washington opposes that demand.

But Western officials indicated they had yet to see substantive new proposals.

Putin forcefully denounced sanctions in general, as Russian Federation reels from Western punitive measures over the Ukraine crisis.

Hours ahead of a deadline set by the U.S. Congress for a quick review of a nuclear deal reached between Iran and the six powers, Kerry said on Thursday the United States and other powers were not in a rush to reach the deal with Iran.

Knowing they are increasingly outnumbered, analysts say, they are using the many means under their direct control to reinforce their message. Moscow and Tehran are interested in finishing their deal on the sale to Iran of Russia’s advanced S-300 missile system.

“There was no slamming of doors but it was a very heated exchange of views”, one of the senior Western diplomats said.

French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said he would remain in Austria’s capital for negotiations into Friday morning, citing “good things, but there is still work to do”.

One of the biggest raps against President Hassan Rouhani’s foreign policy in Iran is that he and his administration are too eager to expand relations with the West. Yet, in the two years after his election, Rouhani has met his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, no less than four times and held numerous telephone conversations, not to mention authorized dozens of bilateral diplomatic missions.

President Obama spoke to his negotiating team by teleconference Wednesday night, and provided guidance on an agreement that meets his requirements, the White House said.