Issues under Fire: Iran Stands Firm On Sanction Relief Demands

Issues under Fire: Iran Stands Firm On Sanction Relief Demands

Since the announcement of the framework agreement between Iran and the P5+1 last week, a lot of water has gone under the bridge and most of its been muddy and murky. With conflicting interpretations arising from the moment each party completed their statements of commitments and intentions, it should have been evident to any objective observer, that something wasn't entirely kosher about the framework's rollout. If the rollout was flawed, the framework had to be flawed. 

In order to get all parties back on the same page, Iran's Supreme Leader made clear in no uncertain terms, what Tehran will concede for a deal and what Tehran expects in return. Simply stated, Tehran wants the sanctions lifted as soon as a final agreement is signed. Iran won't accept having its assets dolled out in drips and drabs at the discretion of the West. While Iran will allow intrusive inspections at all nuclear related facilities, those intrusive inspections won't now, nor in the future, include unfettered access to certain military installations.  

Having Western inspectors snooping in every nook and cranny of Iran's defense systems, only to gather intelligence for future military strikes is a red line that won't be crossed under any circumstances. And quite frankly, only a fool would've expected Iran to agree to such demands, considering the hostile history and persistent heated rhetoric burning up the twitter-shpere lately. 

How the Kerry team misread or misunderstood the above "nonnegotiable" issues is a mystery that needs attention. From this observer's perspective, the Obama administration never seem to appreciate where Iran was coming from, since the U.S. completely misread and misunderstood why Iran reached out to the international community in the first place. Erroneously calculating Tehran was on the ropes, isolated and broken due to crippling economic sanctions, the U.S. led team of negotiators found themselves proceeding under totally false perceptions. 

Entering the negotiations presuming Iran was desperate was a mistake. Approaching the talks convinced Iran had no other options was shortsighted. Engaging Iran without fully comprehending who and what the Iranian people are all about, only exposed Western ignorance. Having gotten this far in the process, still believing Tehran will rollover if additional sanctions are levied, is to remain deluded, that sanctions was the only factor that brought Iran to the table.    

Dispelling that myth once and for all, the Supreme Leader set the record straight by telling the world, if the sanctions aren't lifted as per Tehran's interpretation of any deal proposed, Iran will walk away from any further talks and that's final. Take it or leave it. This is not the position of someone in distress. This in not the position of someone without allies. These are not the words of someone without a "Plan B".  

Bottom line: If this deal dies, Iran has correctly calculated its position will be appreciated by the international community. Since Tehran has likely already received assurances from China, Russia and Europe that alternative accommodations can be made to bring Iran back into the fold, Iran's Supreme Leader, has far less to fret over than the White House going forward. Podcast Below!