Russia Says Iran Deal ‘Within Reach,’ Demands End to Arms Embargo

“It is within reach”.

Iran and six world powers were close to an historic nuclear agreement on Thursday that could resolve a more than 12-year dispute over Tehran’s nuclear ambitions, but they remained deadlocked on the issue of Iranian arms and missile trade.

A successful outcome would be a triumph both for U.S. President Barack Obama and Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani, a pragmatist elected in 2013 on a pledge to reduce Iran’s global isolation.

Dubowitz and Gerecht also pointed out that a deal won’t make Iran friendlier to the United States or less aggressive towards its neighbors.

Putting it more bluntly, Cotton said: “We’re about to give Iran a signing bonus of tens of billions of dollars and they want to lift the arms embargo”.

“I, frankly, think that it appears the Iranians are unwilling to meet the requirements that are necessary in order for there to be an agreement”, Hoyer said Tuesday.

The Russian president’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said Putin noted “positive dynamics” in the ongoing Vienna talks about a final agreement on Iran’s nuclear program, according to Russian news agencies.

The Iranians immediately and aggressively began briefing against the Americans. They expressed doubt that the deal could work at it stated goals of stopping Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, but would set up a potential confrontation anyway.

However, Rouhani’s scheduled speeches at both the SCO and BRICS summit, as well his rumored attendance at the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) summit-also taking place in Ufa this week-are timely reminders of the broader political and economic components and direction of Iranian foreign policy.

The official was “unimpressed” with Obama’s assessment that chances for completing a deal are under 50 percent, he told local press. However, if they do not manage expectations at home, it will be hard for Iranian moderates to capitalize on a nuclear deal and extend their influence to the legislative branch in the February 2016 parliamentary elections.

“Iran is a consistent supporter of the struggle against ISIS and lifting the arms embargo would help Iran to advance its efficiency in fighting terrorism”, he told reporters.

Though Iran has agreed to claw back its nuclear programme substantially and accepted long term surveillance and certification by IAEA, it seeks the immediate suspension of the sanctions, a position that is, so far, not accepted by the West. The U.S. and Europe insist on IAEA certification that Iran has implemented all its nuclear obligations.

The biggest sticking points include issues such as a United Nations arms embargo, UN missile sanctions, the speed of sanctions relief, and research and development on advanced nuclear centrifuges.

While the arms embargo is subject to great power and regional dynamics, including the Russian-US competition, neither Tehran nor Moscow have an interest in painting themselves into a corner.