Congress Threatens to Derail Iran Deal With New Sanctions

The P5+1 deal with Iran may be finalized, but keeping it intact is still a battle, as the sanctions relief in the deal is under immediate threat from the US Congress, where hawks are threatening to impose more sanctions on Iran. For some, like Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R – GA), the argument is that Iran is in a weak position right now and the sanctions could really stick it to them and dictate even harsher terms. Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif is warning that new sanctions would kill the deal, however, and for many Congressmen, that’s the whole point. Sen. Chuck Schumer (D – NY) and others have made it no secret they oppose the deal, and are pushing new sanctions as a way to “protest” against the deal, and ideally sabotage it outright.

Israel Renews Warnings of Military Action After Iran Nuclear Deal - Time Magazine

Peter Symonds: Interim agreement reached on Iran’s nuclear programs ■ After four days of extended international talks in Geneva, an interim deal was reached on Iran’s nuclear programs early Sunday morning, setting the stage for negotiations over a longer term, comprehensive agreement. Negotiations between Iran and the P5+1 group (the US, Britain, France, China, Russia and Germany) recommenced in Geneva last Wednesday, after the previous round earlier this month broke up without agreement. With the US Congress threatening to impose punitive new sanctions on Iran that could derail further talks, an agreement was sealed that effectively freezes all Iran’s nuclear programs and allows for intrusive inspections in return for very limited relief from the existing crippling sanctions regime. Washington was at pains to stress that Iran received very little in return.

Stephen Lendman: Deal in Geneva: Hold the Cheers ■ Longstanding hardline US/Israeli policy won't change. Sanctions Iran most wants removed remain in place. Stiff new ones may follow later on. For now they're postponed. A six month interim deal was agreed on. It's temporary, modest and reversible. It can be changed, rescinded or ignored if Washington wishes. Iran has no guarantees. It has legitimate demands. It wants its sovereign rights respected.

Xymphora: Let the negotiations begin! ■ Of course, the real negotiations are between the elected government of the United States and the real government of the United States, the Zionist Occupation Government. The job of a successful American Administration is to frame these second negotiations, the real negotiations, in such a way that real American interests, and not solely the interests of a truly insane group of violent group supremacists who would not hesitate to blow up the entire world to steal another square millimeter of land, prevail. The deal provides almost no benefit to Iran except to put the world's real warmongers in the spotlight if the next six months don't produce a lasting agreement due to ZOG blocking.