Secretary of State John Kerry said today that warming relations
between United States and Iran do not mean the U.S. will back off its demands
about Iran’s nuclear program.
Kerry made the remarks during a joint press conference with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Bali. Kerry was effectively responding to yesterday’s remarks by Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif who had said the current P5+1 proposal made in Almaty in February was “history,” and the P5+1 should come to negotiating table with Iran with a new approach. Iran had never responded to the Almaty proposal.
“We’re waiting for the fullness of the Iranian difference in their approach now,” Kerry said “But we’re encouraged by the statements that were made in New York, and we’re encouraged by the outreach.”
Lavrov, who will be attending next week’s Geneva talks on Iran nuclear program, P5+1 wants “a road map which would, at the end of the day, satisfy the international community that the Iranian nuclear program is entirely peaceful” and put under the full control of international nuclear monitors.
“Iran probably wants more clarity, more specific steps to be spelled out on the road to the result which we all want to achieve,” Lavrov said. “And I think this would be discussed next week in Geneva.” (The Washington Post, 7 October)
Photo credit: U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, right, and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov take part in a press conference on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit on Indonesia's resort island of Bali, October 7, 2013. (Sonny Tumbelaka/AFP/Getty Images/WashPost)
Kerry made the remarks during a joint press conference with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Bali. Kerry was effectively responding to yesterday’s remarks by Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif who had said the current P5+1 proposal made in Almaty in February was “history,” and the P5+1 should come to negotiating table with Iran with a new approach. Iran had never responded to the Almaty proposal.
“We’re waiting for the fullness of the Iranian difference in their approach now,” Kerry said “But we’re encouraged by the statements that were made in New York, and we’re encouraged by the outreach.”
Lavrov, who will be attending next week’s Geneva talks on Iran nuclear program, P5+1 wants “a road map which would, at the end of the day, satisfy the international community that the Iranian nuclear program is entirely peaceful” and put under the full control of international nuclear monitors.
“Iran probably wants more clarity, more specific steps to be spelled out on the road to the result which we all want to achieve,” Lavrov said. “And I think this would be discussed next week in Geneva.” (The Washington Post, 7 October)
Photo credit: U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, right, and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov take part in a press conference on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit on Indonesia's resort island of Bali, October 7, 2013. (Sonny Tumbelaka/AFP/Getty Images/WashPost)
It's funny how true stereotypes are, in this case the stereotype that Iranians are over-haggling, dishonest, tricky rug salesmen. Embarrassing really.
ReplyDeleteIf the U.S. approach remains fixed on Iran's surrendering of its nuclear program in return for sanction relief addressing only a couple of Iran's counter-sanction measures (like oil for gold from a few countries), then the next round of talks is bound to fail, just as the SL branch of IRGC and the IRGC are expecting.
ReplyDeleteSince you agree with and constantly propagandize the IRGS and Iran's leaders, then why don't you get the hell out of the U.S. and move to Iran?
DeleteWhy should he move? One more braying donkey in Iran surely isn't needed and one less such jackass in the US won't much matter.
DeleteAnonymousOctober 7, 2013 at 11:28 AM
DeleteAs opposed to the reality of the wests politicians as cynical liars merely repeating the same old lies ad nauseum
Mark PyruzOctober 7, 2013 at 12:03 PM
Agreed
AnonymousOctober 7, 2013 at 12:09 PM
Why dont you go to some right wing board where your anti iran bias would be more appreciated
Mark is being honest and objective !-to win the support of the hardliners in Iran, the US needs to shade its lies and clumsy flip-flops and come on the negotiation table with a new approach since the new team in IRAN is fully committed to resolving the nuclear issue and open another chapter -just that!!.
Deletenow before you declare Mark a persona non Grata in the US ,do you get His point?