There is no way the U.S. Congress will accept any kind of nuclear deal with Iran before this case is closed. Failure to comply with its own agreement to resolve these issues suggests either that whoever has the final say in Iran’s complicated and bitter internal wrangling over this issue doesn’t think reaching a comprehensive agreement in November is either practical or desirable. The mixed signals from Iran—continuing to reduce its reported uranium stockpile while blowing off the IAEA—suggest that the authorities want another extension of the temporary agreement, presumably with some more sanctions relief.
There are lots of reasons why this makes sense from Iran’s point of view. With the U.S. obviously floundering in the face of ISIS, Iran may feel it has little to fear from stepped up U.S. pressure and that, as time passes, Americans will come to what Iranians would regard as their senses and realize that an alliance with Iran is the only hope to stabilize the Middle East.
Join the conversation as a VIP Member