There have been three decades of mistrust between Iran and The West. That doesn't go away over night. The Middle East can't possibly think about nuclear war. It is out of the question.
March 21, 2015
By Lesley Wroughton
(Reuters) - Iran's top leader (click here) voiced mistrust on Saturday of U.S. efforts to reach a nuclear deal, even as Washington and its allies spoke of real progress and urged Tehran to take "difficult decisions".
With just 10 days remaining until an end-of-March deadline for a framework agreement, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei denounced U.S. "bullying" in the negotiations and repeated Tehran's denial that it was seeking to develop a nuclear weapon.
After week-long talks with Iran in Switzerland, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry flew to London to confer with his counterparts from Britain, France and Germany on prospects for resolving the dispute, which goes back more than a decade and has threatened at times to unleash a new war in the Middle East.
In a joint statement, the foreign ministers said they agreed that "substantial progress" had been made with Iran in key areas, but some important issues remained outstanding....
This agreement will assist in stabilizing the region so the Shia have their homeland secure and the war with Daesh can be conducted to end the violence and hardship so many experience in the Middle East.
There is every reason to sign an agreement. Every reason. The United Nations is receptive to any ongoing concerns by Iran of any other country. This agreement does not make mute the importance that Iran can play in stabilizing the Middle East. This agreement is important. I wish the leaders of Iran would find a way to reconcile their worries and place faith where faith belongs.
There is no room for nuclear weapons in the Middle East, it supplies a solution for no one.
March 21, 2015
By Lesley Wroughton
(Reuters) - Iran's top leader (click here) voiced mistrust on Saturday of U.S. efforts to reach a nuclear deal, even as Washington and its allies spoke of real progress and urged Tehran to take "difficult decisions".
With just 10 days remaining until an end-of-March deadline for a framework agreement, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei denounced U.S. "bullying" in the negotiations and repeated Tehran's denial that it was seeking to develop a nuclear weapon.
After week-long talks with Iran in Switzerland, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry flew to London to confer with his counterparts from Britain, France and Germany on prospects for resolving the dispute, which goes back more than a decade and has threatened at times to unleash a new war in the Middle East.
In a joint statement, the foreign ministers said they agreed that "substantial progress" had been made with Iran in key areas, but some important issues remained outstanding....
This agreement will assist in stabilizing the region so the Shia have their homeland secure and the war with Daesh can be conducted to end the violence and hardship so many experience in the Middle East.
There is every reason to sign an agreement. Every reason. The United Nations is receptive to any ongoing concerns by Iran of any other country. This agreement does not make mute the importance that Iran can play in stabilizing the Middle East. This agreement is important. I wish the leaders of Iran would find a way to reconcile their worries and place faith where faith belongs.
There is no room for nuclear weapons in the Middle East, it supplies a solution for no one.
