MESOP TODAY’S STATE OF ALERT : THE FIRST STEP TOWARD AN IRAN DEAL – NO NEW NUCLEAR CONCESSIONS

By Michael Singh – Washington Post – January 30, 2015 – If only the United States negotiated as ruthlessly with Iran as it does with itself. The interim nuclear accord — formally the Joint Plan of Action (JPOA) — between Iran and the United States and its five negotiating partners (known as the P5+1) offers moderate benefits to both sides: It limits Iran’s nuclear activities in certain respects, while giving Iran time and space for economic recovery. Given these benefits, both sides appear to view the JPOA as essentially their second-best option — not as good as a final accord on terms they prefer but better than the escalating crisis it replaced.

Perversely, however, this makes a final accord less likely. Achieving one will require painful compromises, particularly for Iranian hard-liners who view any accommodation with the United States as contrary to the Islamic Republic’s core ideology. One might make those compromises if the alternative was dire. But the prospect of further extensions of the talks means that it is not. This is the crux of the debate between the White House and Congress over sanctions legislation under consideration on Capitol Hill…

Michael Singh is managing director of The Washington Institute.

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