Ploughshares – Iran and Nukes

The latest round of the P5+1 negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program concluded last Friday. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman said on Friday that “conversations this week have been very tough but constructive,” and stressed that “we are at a very crucial moment in these negotiations.” The negotiations have made significant progress since beginning in February, but with a month remaining before the July 20 deadline, some issues, particularly Iran’s centrifuge capacity, remain points of contention. Talks will resume in Vienna on July 2. Here’s where things stand today and some important considerations as the negotiations enter the home stretch before the July 20 deadline. Iran has shown a commitment to the negotiations and the Joint Plan of Action, but challenges remain.… Read More ›

Will U.S. and Iran Team Up on Iraq Crisis? June 16th, 2014 | Thom Hartmann Program Thom Hartmann Program’s Thom Hartman interviews NSN’s John Bradshaw on U.S.-Iran involvement in Iraq Full Show 6/16/14: Will U.S. and Iran Team Up on Iraq Crisis? To watch the interview, click here. Read More ›

  P5+1 Talks With Iran in Geneva, Switzerland. [U.S. Mission photo by Eric Bridiers, 11/24/13]Iranian negotiators are holding bilateral talks with U.S., French, Russian, and German delegations this week in Geneva ahead of the resumption of P5+1 talks on June 16. “The exchange” with American negotiators “helped us better understand each others’ positions,” an Iranian official told Al-Monitor. Negotiations are entering a tense phase as the deadline for the Joint Plan of Action (JPA) approaches on July 20, and while some negotiators are saying a deal may require an extension of the JPA, the components of a potential long-term agreement are taking shape. At this critical moment, Congress should not introduce new sanctions that would ruin the progress made over the past 10 months. New… Read More ›

Vice President of Iran Aliakbar Salehi delivers his statement at the 57th Regular Session of the IAEA General Conference in Vienna, Austria. [Dean Calma/IAEA, 9/16/13]The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) released today its latest update on Iran’s compliance with an ongoing investigation into the possible military dimensions (PMD) of Iran’s nuclear program. The report finds that Iran is cooperating with investigators and in compliance with its obligations under the Joint Plan of Action, agreed to last November. The news comes a week after the conclusion of the latest round of P5+1 talks, which are taking place simultaneously. While the IAEA investigation is not directly related to the P5+1 talks, compliance with the IAEA is a positive indication of Iranian interest in resolving the nuclear issue.… Read More ›

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton sits with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif during P5+1 Iran Talks meeting in Vienna on March 18, 2014 [European External Action Service, 3/18/14]This week, the P5+1 began a new round of talks over Iran’s nuclear program. The talks are scheduled to continue through Saturday.  Thus far, news out of the negotiations indicates that talks have been challenging, characterized as “good but difficult” by Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, while U.S. officials have called for more progress. The primary sticking point in this round of negotiations has been Iran’s centrifuges used for nuclear enrichment. Iran’s negotiating position has been to expand, rather than decrease, its enrichment capacity and centrifuge count – a position… Read More ›

Top Policy Problems in the NDAA May 14, 2014 Last week, NSN discussed key ways the current House version of the FY 2015 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) hampers smart and effective Pentagon spending. But problems with the NDAA are not only budgetary. The bill also includes policy provisions that would undermine U.S. national security. The legislation that was marked up by the House Armed Services Committee last week includes measures that would hurt the chances of a comprehensive deal with Iran over the nuclear issue by suddenly changing the subject to broader and non-nuclear concerns and provisions that would continue to forestall the closure of Guantanamo despite the cost the facility imposes on America’s image and ability to conduct diplomacy abroad. The bill also… Read More ›

 Iran Nuclear Talks: Drafting a Final Deal Wednesday, May 14, 2014 11:00 AM Eastern Time Negotiators from the six world powers and Iran are meeting in Vienna to begin drafting a comprehensive agreement on Iran’s nuclear program. The panelists on this call will discuss prospects for the negotiations, essential elements of a final agreement on Iran’s nuclear program, and the effects of domestic politics on the international negotiations. Speakers Laicie Heeley Director of Middle East and Defense Policy, Center for Arms Control and Nonproliferation Heeley’s work focuses on weapons proliferation, defense analysis, and Iran. She has published several reports on Iran’s nuclear capabilities and the effects of sanctions. Heeley has been a frequent contributor to CNN and her work has appeared in the Wall Street… Read More ›

Making a Good Deal with Iran Hosted by NSN and the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation April 24, 2015 John Bradshaw, Dr. Colin Kahl, Paul Pillar National Security Network and the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation hosted a briefing, “Making a Good Deal with Iran,” featuring Dr. Colin Kahl (Center for a New American Security) and Dr. Paul Pillar (Brookings Institute), and moderated by NSN’s Executive Director John Bradshaw. The panel discussed the key outstanding issues on the table in order for the P5+1 and Iran to reach a final agreement, Iran’s strategic considerations and intentions, and potential domestic and international spoilers. The event was well attended by House and Senate staffers. Read More ›

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif speaking to the media at P5+1 Talks with Iran in Geneva, Switzerland on November 24, 2013. [U.S. Mission Geneva / Eric Bridiers, 11/24/13]Today, the P5+1 are beginning another round of negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program. Progress over recent months has been slow but steady. Officials both in Tehran and Washington appear optimistic that while tough challenges remain, draft text of a potential agreement may be started on as early as next month. While it is by no means clear what can be realistically expected, a potential final deal will require compromise on both sides if Iran’s nuclear program is to be further rolled back. An acceptable final deal will have to significantly constrain Iran’s program and be part of… Read More ›

Opening of P5+1 Iran Talks in Vienna on March 18, 2014 [AFP Photo/Samuel Kubani via European External Action Service Flickr, 3/18/14]The latest round of talks with the P5+1 powers over Iran’s nuclear program were held this week. This was the second round of negotiations since the implementation of the Joint Plan of Action, which temporarily rolled back aspects of Iran’s nuclear program. The negotiations were widely received as making incremental progress as delegates focused on two of the main sticking points for a final deal: what capacity Iran is to be allowed to enrich nuclear material and the future of the Arak facility. Meanwhile, the domestic political climate in Iran remains favorable for continued negotiations as Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif took to Western newspapers… Read More ›