All participants in the Vienna talks agree.
An agreement to restore the 2015 Iran nuclear deal could be just days away, with negotiators from Europe and Iran making it clear that they’ve reached the final hurdles.
According to a statement from the European Union’s foreign policy chief, Iran’s major demands have been taken into account. “We are ready to finalize a good and immediate agreement but the issue of the Western side can not prevent the observance of Iran’s red lines.”
The U.S. Deputy State Department spokeswoman said, “There has been significant progress and we are close to a possible deal, but a number of difficult issues remain unsolved.”
A spokesperson for Iran’s foreign ministry said that, regardless of the positive rumblings, “Nobody can say the deal is done until all of the outstanding remaining issues are resolved.”
The biggest hurdle appears to be the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) investigation, which Western powers have said cannot be shut down until the agency’s concerns are addressed. Another obstacle has been Iran’s insistence that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps be removed from the U.S. terror blacklist.
Iran has increasingly broken away from its commitments under the agreement, and many believe it would be able to quickly develop nuclear weapons and pose a serious threat to security and stability in the Middle East if there is not a breakthrough soon.
As another U.S. official said, “Nothing is agreed until everything is agreed,” and there is always a chance a new issue will emerge at the last minute.
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For U.S. and allied negotiators to be wise in developing the nuclear agreement with Iran.
- For Secretary Blinken as he oversees diplomatic efforts across the globe.
- For discernment for the president and his administration as they seek to complete the nuclear deal.
Sources: Axios, CNN, Wall Street Journal
