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Iran nuclear deal key to political solution in Syria

Despite significant progress in the Geneva nuclear talks over the weekend, time may be short, given the opposition of Israel and some in Congress, with implications for Syria.
European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton listens as Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif (R) speaks during a news conference at the end of the Iranian nuclear talks in Geneva November 10, 2013. Zarif and Ashton said on Sunday they hoped Iran and six world powers would reach an agreement when they gather again in 10 days, adding that the latest round of talks on Tehran's nuclear programme was something all delegations can build on.  REUTERS/Jason Reed   (SWITZERLAND - Tags: POLITICS) - R

US Secretary of State John Kerry provided an upbeat assessment of the marathon talks held in Geneva between the P5+1 countries and Iran on a nuclear agreement, saying the negotiators made “significant progress” and that “we are closer now, as we leave Geneva, than we were when we came.” A follow-up meeting is scheduled at the political directors level for Nov. 20. The negotiations deadlocked over French concerns about Iran’s Arak heavy water facility, as Laura Rozen reported for Al-Monitor from Geneva.

It's not surprising that given the complexity of the issues involved, and three decades of mistrust, that a deal was not reached in just the second round of nuclear negotiations since Hassan Rouhani became president of Iran on Aug. 4.

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