Iran and west to begin drafting nuclear deal after Geneva negotiations
Iran's foreign minister says he believes 'ingredients are there' for historic breakthrough after decade of diplomatic sparring.
Iranian and western officials will start drafting a nuclear agreement in Geneva on Friday after international negotiations made dramatic progress, Iran's foreign minister has told the Guardian. As hopes of a breakthrough soared, the US secretary of state, John Kerry, is to travel to Switzerland on Friday to help seal an agreement which could, if successful, go a long way towards defusing tensions in the Gulf and put off the threat of new war in the Middle East. A senior US state department official said: "Secretary Kerry will travel to Geneva, Switzerland, on Friday at the invitation of EU high representative Ashton in an effort to help narrow differences in negotiations." An agreement on any scale would represent a historic breakthrough after a decade of diplomatic sparring marked by paralysis and distrust.
Haaretz: Netanyahu warns Kerry: Israel not bound by any deal between Iran and West ● Israel does not see itself bound by an agreement between Tehran and the six world powers over Iran’s nuclear program, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry Friday morning. In a tense meeting with Kerry ahead of his departure to Geneva to join negotiations between the P5+1 and Iran, Netanyahu said that that Israel does not see itself committed to any deal between Iran and world powers. Kerry called off making a statement before the meeting in an attempt to avoid a public confrontation. But Netanyahu decided to go ahead with a statement on his own and slammed a possible agreement between Iran and the six world powers.
Jason Ditz: Interim Iran Nuclear Deal Could Be Signed Friday
New York Times: West and Iran Seen as Nearing a Nuclear Deal