The long-running negotiations about Iran’s nuclear program and the economic sanctions levied against it by major powers are nearing their end, set for Tuesday (June 30). ADVERTISING The long-running negotiations about Iran’s nuclear program and the economic sanctions levied against
The long-running negotiations about Iran’s nuclear program and the economic sanctions levied against it by major powers are nearing their end, set for Tuesday (June 30).
Secretary of State John Kerry, somewhat recovered from a bicycle accident in France, is headed to Vienna for what is supposed to be the final round of talks between Iran and the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council — China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States — plus Germany, subsequent to meetings in Washington with the Chinese on economic matters.
There is considerable steam to reach closure, in spite of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s unhelpful effort to block an agreement on the Western side of the table.
The strongest reason, on both sides, to successfully wind up the talks is the agreement would mean once again the regime in Tehran, more or less out in the cold internationally since the ayatollahs took power in 1979, would be a functioning member of the international community.
That development should introduce an increased measure of reason in the Middle East.
They certainly need it, with Sunni-Shiite conflicts within Islam, sharpened severely by the new presence of the Islamic State, seemingly hell-bent on redrawing borders in Iraq and Syria by force and a number of failed states.
The other positive result of an agreement, apart from the reduction of Iran as a nuclear threat in the foreseeable future — with firm International Atomic Energy Agency inspector oversight — will be that Iran will become a more normal economic and financial player in the world. It has a population of some 80 million and considerable resources, including petroleum.
This factor also needs to be taken into account by Congress in any effort to nullify U.S. participation in an agreement. The other parties to the accord — all major players in international commerce — certainly will not discourage their companies and banks from moving quickly to take advantage of Iran’s new status.
The United States has every reason to play ball if the last elements in an acceptable accord are ironed out.
That goal should be achieved early next week.
— Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
