November 21, 2013 -- Updated 1927 GMT (0327 HKT)
U.S. Vice President Joe Biden explained potential parameters for a deal
on Iran's nuclear program to Democratic senators Wednesday as
negotiators met in Geneva. FULL STORY
|
POTENTIAL SIX-MONTH DEAL
Kerry says now the 'best chance ... in a decade' for Iran nuclear deal
November 20, 2013 -- Updated 2338 GMT (0738 HKT)
Deal or no deal with Iran?
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
- NEW: Vice President Biden explains parameters for a possible deal to Democratic senators
- Secretary of State John Kerry says "it's important to exhaust ... diplomacy"
- Prime Minister Netanyahu says Israel wants a "genuine" diplomatic solution
- Delegations from the key players meet in Geneva, Switzerland
"It's important to
exhaust the remedies and possibilities of diplomacy," Kerry said from
Washington. "We have the best chance we've had in a decade, we believe,
to halt progress and roll back Iran's program."
The prospect of an
agreement that could roll back some punitive measures against Iran in
exchange for measures assuring that the Middle Eastern country isn't
developing a nuclear weapon has met significant resistance. Some in
Congress have voiced opposition, saying leaders in Tehran cannot be
trusted. It's a sentiment echoed by Israel leaders.
Kerry insisted the
continuing talks represent "the initial stage of determining whether or
not there's a first step that can be taken." Whether the ultimate result
is Iran having access to peaceful nuclear energy is a long ways off;
for now, Kerry claimed that a prospective deal wouldn't give that
country leeway to move toward developing a nuclear weapon.
How to enrich uranium into fuel
Sanctions on table at Iran nuclear talks
Israel looks to derail Iran nuclear deal
World powers, Iran attempt to reach deal
"We will not allow this
agreement should it be reached -- and I say, should it be reached -- to
buy time or to allow for the acceptance of an agreement that does not
properly address our core, fundamental concerns," he said.
Kerry spoke as negotiators met in Geneva, where the major players engaged in three days of intense talks earlier this month. Those discussions concluded without the agreement some had anticipated, albeit with optimism that it could come soon.
"I think we are all on
the same wavelength, and that's important," Iranian Foreign Minister
Javad Zarif said then. "And that gives us the impetus to go forward."
Like those discussions,
the current talks involve delegations from Iran and the five permanent
members of the U.N. Security Council -- the United States, Russia,
China, Great Britain and France -- plus Germany in what is known as the
P5+1.
"The atmosphere is positive," one senior U.S. official said, adding that the Western powers expressed condolences for a bombing that happened near the Iranian Embassy in Beirut.
"We are not in a rush," the official said. "We want to get a good deal, the right deal."
Israeli leader: 'This must be a genuine solution'
One sticking point has
been Iran's insistence on enriching its own uranium for peaceful
purposes. The U.S. official said the issue "can be navigated in an
agreement."
U.S. National Security Adviser Susan Rice said the plan would benefit the global community.
"The international
community would have unprecedented access to Iran's nuclear facilities
and full transparency into what they're doing, so they wouldn't have the
ability to sneak out or break out," Rice said.
But Israel, the United States' closest ally in the region, staunchly opposes the tentative plan.
"It's a bad deal -- an exceedingly bad deal," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told CNN this week.
Netanyahu opposes
lifting some sanctions now without getting further concessions to ensure
Iran would be unable to continue with uranium enrichment and other
steps.
"I think you should not
only keep up the pressure; I think you should increase the pressure,
because it's finally working," Netanyahu said, labeling Iran's economy
as close to paralysis. "If you give it up now, when you have that
pressure, and Iran doesn't even take apart, dismantle one centrifuge,
what leverage will you have when you've eased the pressure?"
At the same time,
Netanyahu repeated his insistence that Israel "always reserves the right
to defend itself against any threat," which is diplomat-speak for a
military strike on Iran's nuclear facilities to stop the development of a
weapon.
Netanyahu elaborated
Wednesday during remarks in Moscow, where he met with Russian President
Vladimir Putin. He characterized Iran's development of nuclear weapons
"the biggest threat against us and against global security." Carrying
through on U.N. Security Council resolutions like those "to halt all
enrichment, to remove all enriched material (and) to dismantle the
centrifuges" are central to that goal.
"I would like remove any
doubts: We want a peaceful, diplomatic solution; everyone prefers this
over any other solution," Netanyahu added. "But this must be a genuine
solution."
Iran: Some Israeli officials 'are like animals'
The Supreme Leader of
Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, didn't mince words when he fired back at
Israel, his nation's staunch adversary.
"Israeli officials cannot be even called humans. They are like animals, some of them," he said Wednesday.
The ayatollah also said
Iran's "heroic flexibility" is not a violation of Iran's values. He
coined that term a few months ago to explain that Iran's leadership can
be flexible while remaining "heroic" in the face of Western powers it
still doesn't trust.
In remarks Wednesday,
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said his country is looking for an
agreement that will benefit both sides.
"The Islamic Republic of
Iran is looking for stability and tranquility in the entire region, and
success in our negotiations with the Group 5+1 will benefit all the
regional countries and the world," he said, according to the
semiofficial FARS news agency.
Tuesday's twin suicide bombing near the Iranian Embassy in Lebanon's capital will not sway the talks, Rouhani said.
"Those who think they
can achieve their goals through terror, intimidation and violence have
always been in mistake, and they are erring again this time," he said.
Rifts within the U.S.
Some U.S. lawmakers
aren't sold on the new plan. On Tuesday, a bipartisan group of six
senators urged the administration to reject the proposed deal with Iran
and accept only an agreement that better dismantles Iran's ability to
develop nuclear weapons.
"I think all of us are
concerned," said Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tennessee. "We know who we are
dealing with, and we've watched this same type of activity occur in
North Korea, where you began to alleviate sanctions, and I think what
the concern is that whatever you do in the interim basis becomes the new
norm."
But U.S. President
Barack Obama said the current sanctions put in place during his
administration had forced Iran to the negotiating table because of
economic contraction and frozen oil revenue.
He said the proposed
deal would "open up the spigot a little bit" on some of the frozen
revenue while leaving in place the bulk of the most effective sanctions
involving Iranian oil exports and banking. But Obama also stressed that
all options, including military strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities,
remained on the table as far as the United States was concerned.
Vice President Joe
Biden, joined by members of his national security team, explained the
administration's position Wednesday to 12 Democratic senators. He laid
out potential parameters of a six-month deal such as addressing 'Iran's
enrichment capabilities, existing stockpiles of uranium, centrifuges and
ability to produce plutonium using the Arak reactor" and allowing for
"intrusive monitoring" by international inspectors.
"The Vice President
reiterated that the President has a responsibility to seek a peaceful
resolution that prevents Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon before
pursuing alternatives," the White House said in a statement. "The
current P5+1 proposal has the potential to do just that."
CNN's Jim Sciutto, Saad Abedine and Reza Sayah contributed to this repoTOP MIDDLE EAST STORIES
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