Iran Nuclear Envoys Look to Deal as Netanyahu Goes to Moscow
By Jonathan Tirone - Nov 20, 2013
Negotiators gathering in Geneva to end the decade-long deadlock over Iran’s nuclear work are looking to seal an accord in the face of Israeli objections.
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton met privately and a plenary session will be held at 6:00 p.m. local time today in the Swiss city, according to an EU statement. Negotiations between Iran and senior diplomats from China, France, Germany, Russia, the U.K. and the U.S. are expected to run at least through Nov. 22, organizers said.
“The last round of nuclear talks with Iran showed that a diplomatic resolution is possible,” German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said in a statement from Berlin. “We can succeed at the Geneva talks beginning today to take important first steps.”
The accord under consideration would deliver Iran limited sanctions relief in exchange for a verified halt to some elements of its nuclear work. The initial deal would last six months, during which time negotiations would continue over a comprehensive accord intended to ensure that Iran won’t make a nuclear weapon. The Islamic republic denies it wants one.
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a critic of the proposed agreement, flew to Moscow today for a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Jewish state has said it may consider a preemptive strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities if diplomacy fails to ensure that it can’t make nuclear weapons.
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