But despite the administration’s claim that the treaty would “create a stronger U.S.-Russia bond in a broader international effort to restrain Iran’s nuclear weapons program,” so far, Iran isn’t showing any signs of restraint.
On Jan. 22 — exactly one month after the Senate approved the treaty — diplomatic efforts to restart talks on Iran’s nuclear program failed. Iranian officials refused to discuss the program unless representatives from the U.S., Russia, France, Britain, China and Germany agreed up front to a list of conditions that included an immediate cessation of economic sanctions.
The Six-Party talks, which took place in Istanbul, ended precisely where Iran desired, giving up nothing but still holding open the door for continued talks. Tellingly, the next day Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad announced a willingness to engage in future talks.
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