AP: Iran has turned all of its enriched uranium closest to the level needed to make nuclear arms into more harmless forms, the United Nations’ nuclear agency said Sunday. The move was expected. Tehran had committed to convert or dilute its 20-percent enriched stockpile under an agreement with six powers last November that froze its atomic programs pending negotiations on a comprehensive deal. Those talks were extended Saturday to Nov. 24.
UN: Iran gets rid of sensitive nuclear material
Iran warned of ‘last chance’ in nuclear talks after deadline missed
Reuters: Iran faced Western pressure on Saturday to make concessions over its atomic activities after it and six world powers failed to meet a July 20 deadline for a deal to end the decade-old dispute but agreed to keep talking. The countries agreed to extend the high-stakes negotiations by four months, and let Iran access another $2.8 billion of its cash frozen abroad during that period.
Iran won’t slow down on ballistic missiles
USA Today: With time for nuclear diplomacy between Iran and the P5+1 nations (the U.S., UK, Russia, China, France and Germany) running out, and with the White House scrambling to cobble together some sort of deal with Tehran, it’s perhaps not surprising that Pentagon’s latest annual assessment of Iran’s military capabilities has so far garnered little attention, either within the Washington Beltway or outside it.
Iran nuke talks to be extended for 4 months
AP: Iran and six world powers failed Saturday to meet their target date for cutting a nuclear deal but agreed to extend the talks until Nov. 24 in a bid to overcome stubborn differences over the size and capacity of activities by Tehran that could be used to make nuclear arms. Ed Royce, a Republican and chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee criticized the extension shortly after it was announced.
U.S. ‘comfortable’ with Iran’s oil exports
UPI: The U.S. federal government is “comfortable” with the amount of crude oil exported from Iran, a spokeswoman for the State Department said. Iran secured consent to export around 1 million barrels of oil per day as part of a November agreement to curb its nuclear activity. U.S. State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said Iran has been operating according to the terms of agreement.
A mother asks Obama: ‘please remember my Amir’
New York Times: The mother of Amir Hekmati, an American of Iranian descent imprisoned in Tehran for nearly three years, has written to President Obama, asking him to “please remember my Amir” in the negotiations with Iran over its disputed nuclear program. The letter from the mother, Behnaz Hekmati, appeared timed to convey the family’s wish that the United States use its leverage in the nuclear talks to win his release.
Iranian commanders on front line of Iraq’s fight
AP: The startlingly hands-on role of Iranian Gen. Ghasem Soleimani points to the extent of the Shiite-led Iraqi government’s reliance on its ally Tehran. Shiite fighters have come to idolize the Iranians who have moved into the heat of battle alongside them – with two Iranian advisers killed in fighting – while government officials grumble the United States has failed to come to their aid.
West considers early sanctions moves in troubled Iran nuclear talks
Reuters: With talks between world powers and Iran over a broad nuclear accord at an impasse, Western governments are considering offering a significant easing of sanctions early on in the process to try to wring concessions from Tehran, diplomats say. To be effective, such a plan would have to involve clear guidance to companies made wary by U.S. fines for sanctions-busting, be reversible and not go too far.
Obama opens door to extending Iran nuclear negotiations
Bloomberg: U.S. President Barack Obama raised the possibility of extending talks with Iran over its disputed nuclear program, suggesting that a comprehensive accord won’t be reached before an interim deal expires July 20. “There are still some significant gaps between the international community and Iran, and we have more work to do,” Obama told reporters at the White House yesterday.
Key Democrat impatient on Iran nuke talks
The Hill: Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Robert Menendez (N.J.) is wary about giving Secretary of State John Kerry more time to reach a nuclear deal with Iran. Menendez, a sharp critic of Iran, could present a problem for the Obama administration, which has strongly hinted it will seek more time to negotiate. “We want an agreement but it has to be a good agreement, not an agreement for agreement’s sake,” he said.
