RINF<\/a>) –\u00a0On April 1, P5+1 countries and Iran agreed “in principle on all key aspects of a deal.”<\/p>\nAn article discussing the announcement said hold the cheers. It’s a long way from preliminary to final agreement – especially with Washington involved, serving its own and Israeli interests.<\/p>\n
It’s longer still believing America will honor what it agrees to. Its sordid history suggests otherwise – breaching and\/or reinterpreting one agreement and convention after another to suit its political agenda.<\/p>\n
Washington’s only rules are its own – made up based on geopolitical considerations and enforced belligerently.<\/p>\n
P5+1 nations and Iran agreed on a June 30 deadline to consummate final deal terms.<\/p>\n
On Saturday, Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif arrived in Geneva for continued talks – including with John Kerry.<\/p>\n
Important disagreements remain. On Wednesday, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araqchi said talks might extend beyond end of June.<\/p>\n
“All issues are on the table in this round of talks, and we will work on them concurrently,” he explained.<\/p>\n
Washington raised the bar. It wants access to Iran’s military sites. Days earlier, State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf said:<\/p>\n
“If we don\u2019t get the assurances we need on the access to possible military dimension-related sites or activities, that\u2019s going to be a problem for us.”<\/p>\n
“We and Iran have agreed that we will undertake a process to address possible military dimensions (of past nuclear work), and part of that includes access.”<\/p>\n
“Under the Additional Protocol… which Iran will implement and has said they will implement as part of this deal, the IAEA does get access.”<\/p>\n
“If we cannot agree in the final instance to something that meets our bottom line for what we need in terms of access, we\u2019re not going to sign a final deal. And that\u2019s just something we\u2019ve been very, very clear about.”<\/p>\n
Her remarks followed Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei saying Iran won’t allow military site inspections. Preliminary agreement terms make no such demand.<\/p>\n
Following new US ones, Ayatollah Khamenei said “(t)hey are making new comments in the negotiations.”<\/p>\n
“Regarding the inspections, we have said that we will not allow foreigners to carry out inspections of any military sites.”<\/p>\n
“The enemies should know that the Iranian nation and officials will, by no means, give in to excessive demands and bullying.”<\/p>\n
In early May, Iranian Foreign Minister Zarif said “Iran will brook no excessive demands.”<\/p>\n
“The agreed parameters are those confirmed by the two sides in Lausanne and these parameters need to be stipulated in a written agreement by Iran and the P5+1.”<\/p>\n
On Saturday, Deputy Foreign Minister Araqchi said “(i)nterviews with scientists and inspections of military centers are fully rejected, but talks continue within the framework of the procedures envisaged in the Additional Protocol.”<\/p>\n
It allows some access to military sites but not unrestricted inspections or interviews with Iranian scientists.<\/p>\n
Araqchi explained discussions are continuing on how the Additional Protocol should be implemented. It permits snap nuclear site inspections – restricted access only to military ones when justified.<\/p>\n
On Wednesday, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said “France will not accept a deal if it is not clear that inspections can be done at all Iranian installations, including military sites.”<\/p>\n
Was he speaking for his government, Washington and\/or Israel?<\/p>\n
“Yes to an agreement, but not to an agreement that will enable Iran to have the atomic bomb. That is the position of France,” he said.<\/p>\n
In Geneva, Zarif said “(w)e will discuss the latest conditions of the negotiations, and we will decide how to proceed.”<\/p>\n
Last Month, Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) head Ali Akbar Salehi said nothing in the Additional Protocol mandates non-nuclear inspections – only their “vicinities.”<\/p>\n
Everyone has their own interpretations, he added. Iran so far agreed to much more than it’s gotten in return.<\/p>\n
If Washington keeps raising the bar irresponsibly, perhaps no deal is possible. Iran justifiably won’t relinquish its legitimate rights – nor should it.<\/p>\n
Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.<\/p>\n
His new book as editor and contributor is titled “Flashpoint in Ukraine: US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III.”<\/p>\n
http:\/\/www.claritypress.com\/LendmanIII.html<\/p>\n
Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com.<\/p>\n
Listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network.<\/p>\n
It airs three times weekly: live on Sundays at 1PM Central time plus two prerecorded archived programs.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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