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Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Back to the Future - Iran Talks "Hopeful"
2012-04-15
Western diplomats claimed modest progress Saturday after more than 10 hours of talks with Iranian officials, raising hopes for at least a temporary easing of a nuclear crisis that has fueled fears of a new military conflict in the Middle East.

The day-long talks at an Istanbul conference center did not yield an agreement on specific curbs to Iran's nuclear program, but U.S. and European officials described the negotiations as "constructive and useful" and said a second round had been set for May 23 in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad.
This is datelined April 14 - THIS year.
"While the atmosphere today was positive, and good enough to merit a second round, there is urgency for concrete progress, and the window for diplomatic action is closing," said the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe diplomatic deliberations.
He's free to be quoted on global warming, Hollywood Starlets, and other such topics, just not diplomatic deliberations.
And always not for attribution...
The chief Iranian representative, Supreme National Security Council Secretary Saeed Jalili, called the talks a "success" and said he believed the atmosphere was now conducive to progress.

"We saw a positive approach," said Jalili, speaking through an interpreter. "We consider it a step forward. For Iranian people, the language of threats and pressure don't work. But the approach of appeasement cooperation and talk could be fruitful."
He may even believe what he says, but wait ...
The senior U.S. official said that during the meetings, Jalili "repeated what they said in the past, that it is un-Islamic to have a nuclear weapon."

Signaling Iran's intention to take a tough line in the future talks, Jalili said Tehran would insist on having "full rights under the non-proliferation treaty," implying that it will continue to maintain its right to enrich uranium, which it says it needs for peaceful nuclear energy uses.
Groundhog Day!
Before taking the podium, Jalili's aide displayed a poster of Iranian scientists killed in bomb attacks over the past four years -- assaults Jalili denounced as terrorism.
Maybe, but we are not sending in molten-copper shaped charges yet.
While diplomats welcomed the chance for continued dialogue with Iran, the prospect of extended negotiations carries political risks for the White House. Israeli and Arab leaders have warned that Iran may use them as a stalling tactic or a means to divide public opinion. Fruitless negotiations could also leave President Obama vulnerable to attacks from Republican opponents who have sought to portray the administration as stoopid soft on Iran.

"Nobody knows exactly how to make a deal on the nuclear issue," said Aaron David Miller, a former State Department official and a veteran of Middle East negotiations. "But none of the three prospective combatants [Israel, Iran and the United States] wants a regional Armageddon, and that's why a negotiating process is king and will rule for much of 2012."
Negotiate - until it's too late.
Posted by:Bobby

#1  Netanyahu notes with irritation that the scheduling of the next meeting gives Iran five free weeks to continue enriching uranium. He does mention aloud that the world will expect Israel to do nothing during this time.
Posted by: trailing wife   2012-04-15 14:14  

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