'Fundamentally Different Ideas' Cloud US-Iran Talks, Former Senior US Diplomat Says

A cease-fire extension framework with Iran remains close but not finalized. Negotiations are blocked by incompatible views on what should be discussed and what Iran must guarantee. The US position requires that Iran cannot obtain a nuclear weapon and seeks strong assurances about Iran’s nuclear capacity and activities. Iran maintains an inherent right to enrich uranium and develop nuclear capability while claiming it is not intended for weapons, and it has not offered the guarantees the US wants. The US also requires reopening the Strait of Hormuz, while Iran takes a different stance. Other issues also lack agreement, with US requirements not matched by Iranian views.

"Even at the moment where President Trump is making a decision on whether to go forward with whatever the current version of the deal is or not, I think what has been blocking the deal ever since April 8, when the cease-fire took place, is that the US and Iran seem to have some fundamentally different ideas on what should or shouldn't be discussed at the moment."

"On the US side, President Trump has been very clear over and over again that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. On the Iranian side, they think that they have an inherent right to enrich uranium or to develop a nuclear capacity -- they claim not for a weapon. So in that respect, they have been very consistent in negotiations in saying that they're not ready to give the kinds of guarantees that the US wants to see on what they're doing with their nuclear capacity."

"On the US side, we've also been very clear that the Strait of Hormuz should open up again, and the Iranians there are also taking a different position on reopening the Strait of Hormuz. So I think those are the key issues. And then on every other issue, I think there hasn't been agreement. There are very clear US ideas and requirements, and then a different Iranian view."

Read at RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty