Iran, major powers trumpet historic nuclear deal

Iran, major powers trumpet historic nuclear deal
Vienna (AFP) July 14, 2015 - Major powers clinched a historic deal Tuesday aimed at ensuring Iran does not obtain the nuclear bomb, opening up Tehran's stricken economy and potentially ending decades of bad blood with the West. Reached on day 18 of marathon talks in Vienna, the accord is aimed at resolving a 13-year standoff over Iran's nuclear ambitions after repeated diplomatic failures and threats of military action. ... morehttp://www.spacewar.com/reports/Iran_major_powers_trumpet_historic_nuclear_deal_999.html

Iran deal paves way for 'broad' coalition against IS: Russia
Moscow (AFP) July 14, 2015 - The Iran nuclear deal paves the way for a "broad" coalition to fight the Islamic State group, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Tuesday. "It removes the barriers - largely artificial - on the way to a broad coalition to fight the Islamic State (IS) and other terrorist groups," Lavrov said in a statement on the ministry's website. The normalisation of the situation with Iran m ... morehttp://www.spacewar.com/reports/Iran_deal_paves_way_for_broad_coalition_against_IS_Russia_999.html

Saudi hopes Iran ends 'interference' after nuclear deal
Riyadh (AFP) July 14, 2015 - Saudi Arabia expressed hope Tuesday for an end to Iran's regional "interference" after a historic nuclear deal aimed at ensuring its Middle East rival does not obtain an atomic bomb. Two of the kingdom's fellow Sunni-run Gulf neighbours also expressed hope for better relations with Shiite-dominated Iran. "Given that Iran is a neighbour, Saudi Arabia hopes to build with her better relatio ... more  http://www.spacewar.com/reports/Saudi_hopes_Iran_ends_interference_after_nuclear_deal_999.html

Obama sells Iran deal
Washington (AFP) July 14, 2015 - US President Barack Obama will hold a press conference Wednesday as he tries to convince Americans, allies and skeptical lawmakers about the benefits of a nuclear deal with Iran. Obama will answer questions in the East Room of the White House, spokesman Josh Earnest said Tuesday. The event is scheduled for 1:00 pm local time (1700 GMT). With Congress set to vote on the deal and Republica ... morehttp://www.spacewar.com/reports/Obama_sells_Iran_deal_999.html

From CFR Update Top of Agenda:

TOP OF THE AGENDA

Regional Reverberations on Iran Deal

Israel and Saudi Arabia voiced concern (WSJ) over a sweeping deal to curb Tehran's nuclear program, saying that it will do little to change Iran's behavior in the region. Some analysts caution that the eventual lifting of an arms embargo against Iran could trigger a regional arms race. Meanwhile, Iraq's prime minister said that the deal signals (AFP) Iran's common will to end regional conflict and defeat the self-proclaimed Islamic State. Following Tuesday's announcement, the United States is preparing a draft resolution that the UN Security Council is expected to vote (Reuters) on as early as next week. U.S. President Barack Obama, who says the deal could help avert war in the Middle East, faces opposition in Congress, which has a sixty-day review period.

ANALYSIS

"It's imperfect. It doesn't solve the problem of Iran's nuclear ambitions. At best it buys us fifteen years. It doesn't solve the problem in any way of Iran's regional reach. If anything it may exacerbate that because of the resources that will now flow to Iran, financial as well as physical. And it may complicate U.S. relations with Iran's neighbors. So my own view is that this will lead to an Iran that is more capable in some ways than the current one. It certainly suggests to me that we are going to be living with the reality of Iran as a regional power for decades to come," says CFR President Richard N. Haass in a CFR Interview.

"A post-deal policy that focuses exclusively on rollback will produce confrontation rather than diminish or end it. A policy that includes a parallel effort to build a more inclusive structure in the Gulf—while simultaneously signaling a hard line on Iranian malfeasance in Syria and the Levant—stands a better chance of achieving the sort of stability the people of this region deserve," write Frederic Wehrey and Richard Sokolsky in Foreign Affairs.

"To maximize congressional and international support, Mr. Obama must now focus on the national security benefits of this accord and avoid any new suggestions that the deal was intended as part of a grand strategy for the region. American-Iranian relations may one day improve when Tehran’s destabilizing policies in the region change. The White House can hope that will happen but should not expect it. Whether it occurs is irrelevant to the wisdom of Tuesday’s arms control agreement," writes James Rubin in the New York Times.