Reuters: Western officials suggest Iran tries to wiggle out of nuclear pledges
Iran is backtracking from an interim nuclear agreement with world powers three months ago, Western officials suggested on Sunday, as U.S. and Iranian officials said talks on a final accord would likely run past a June 30 deadline.
Securing an historic agreement would end a more than 12-year nuclear standoff between Iran and the West and open the door to suspending sanctions that have crippled Tehran's economy. It could also help ease the diplomatic isolation for an Iran that has become increasingly assertive across the region.
Highlighting how much work remains in the nuclear negotiations, British Foreign Minister Philip Hammond said on arrival in Vienna that major challenges remained, including on the parameters already agreed in April in Lausanne, Switzerland.
WNU Editor: Former CIA Director Hayden believes that Iran now has the upper hand in these talks .... Deadline likely missed in nuclear deal - Hayden says Iran has 'upper hand' (FOX News). What's my take .... the White House is under pressure to show some progress in these talks .... and they do not want to be in a position where they have been proven wrong (while critics of the U.S. - Iran policy have been proven right). My prediction for the following week is simple. I expect more Iranian backtracking while demanding the unconditional lifting of sanctions .... and I expect the U.S. will comply to some of these demands. But on the key issue of inspections .... I just do not see Iran backtracking on this (they have refused to permit inspections of suspect military sites involved in nuclear research) .... and I have trouble seeing the West agreeing to these terms. Inspections have always been the cornerstone for every nuclear agreement ... without inspections there is then no point to an agreement.
Update: Here is an interesting article on how (and when) the U.S. and Iran first started to talk .... Iran Wish List Led to U.S. Talks (WSJ).