Officials from Iran and the P5+1 world powers on the final day of talks in Lausanne, March 31, 2015. Photo by AFP
1:05 P.M. The head of the Iranian negotiating team,(click here) Abbas Araqchi, said that most issues have been solved, but two or three contested issues are currently under debate. According to him, there is a good chance of reaching a resolution by Wednesday evening, but that no deal would be made until these issues are resolved.
Araqchi added that no deal would be presented by day's end, only a joint statement by Iran and the world powers that will stress that progress has been made, and that the sides will continue negotiating to phrase the different solutions. The Iranian team would leave Lausanne after the statement is made and will return to Tehran....
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has no right to inflame the dialogue surrounding these agreements in an attempt to scuttle them. I didn't notice an Iranian General at the table.
How would Netanyahu know what an Iranian General stated? News article or what? Who was it? The current Presidential administration in Iran is more interested in peace than confrontation.
It is very easy for a political figure to make all kinds of statements as if there is going to be war breaking out as soon as a permanent agreement is signed. It is ridiculous.
If the agreement was perfect today and tomorrow Iran decided to invade Israel the agreement is off. In no way does any aggression preclude a defense or otherwise for Israel. It's a ridiculous statement and proves nothing; absolutely nothing.
All one has to do is realize who is sitting at the table. There are very powerful countries at that table. Iran wouldn't have a chance if they decided to do anything dangerous to Israel. The entire idea of Netanyahu is ridiculous. It has no basis in fact or even theory. I don't care what general he talks to.
There is not one country at the negotiating table that doesn't share treaties and otherwise with Israel. Every one of those countries have Jewish populations. The idea negotiations would open danger to Israel is nonsense.
Why it is called "The P5 plus one?" I've mentioned this before. The P5 represents the five permanent members of the NPT. They have a responsibility to other countries to contain any dangers. They are all allies to other countries. The idea Iran is going to have the ability to destroy anyone is a lie. It is why the same countries are involved with North Korea.
When it came to Pakistan, Admiral Mullens stepped out of his military status to speak to the leadership in that country regarding the Haqqani network. There is not a UN Permanent country that does not seek assessment of all powers with nuclear capacity. They have a responsibility. To say Iran has special status and is going to be allowed to grow dangers to the region is simply outrageous. These countries are not going to allow it. They don't want to create instability and the opportunity to war.
China sent an envoy to North Korea when tensions in the region were on the rise. It is the responsibility of the five permanent nations to consider the stability of any region in the world that poses a threat to others.
If any one of these countries decided to act against Iran it could take control in a very short period of time. Iraq fell nearly as the USA crossed into it's borders. Israel doesn't have the resources or the defense forces the USA has. Israel is only vulnerable when it acts stupidly against the Palestinian Nation. It never fails that when Israel rolls out it's bulldozers or otherwise the global community is demanding action to contain Israel and protect the Palestinians. Every time.
So, for anyone in the US Congress to think there is weakness in the resolve with Iran is not only a lie, but, out of sync with the diplomatic efforts that are having success.
I assume the members of Congress want a peaceful and safe world. Maybe that is a wrong assumption.
