The deal with Iran, and what comes next
The agreement with Iran opens up new possibilities for both the United States and Russia in the Middle East.
The “joint plan of action” agreed to by six major powers and Iran in Geneva today is nothing short of a breakthrough, not only as an initial step in dealing with Iran’s nuclear program but also for broader issues of regional security in the Middle East.
The deal itself lays out a plan for the next six months while a comprehensive nuclear pact is negotiated. During these six months, Iran has agreed to unprecedented monitoring of its nuclear facilities, a halt to new centrifuge installation and uranium enrichment over 5% and no further development at Natanz, Fordow and the Arak reactor in return for some sanctions relief.
Laura Rozen, covering the talks in Geneva, broke the story of how the talks were facilitated by secret backchannel diplomacy by US Deputy Secretary of State William Burns.
US Secretary of State John Kerry addressed critics of the deal when he said today, “There are those who will assert that this deal is imperfect. Well, they, too, bear a responsibility, and that is to tell people what the better alternative is.”
