Iran Nuclear Talks Stall Over ‘Excessive Demands’

Iran Nuclear Talks Stall Over ‘Excessive Demands’

Progress Made, But Pact Seems Unlikely Before July 20

by Jason Ditz, 

The latest round of nuclear talks between Iran and the P5+1 made more progress, but seem to still be stalled on key points, according to officials from both sides, and a deal seems unlikely before the July 20 “deadline.”

Iran has met the terms of the interim P5+1 deal and more,virtually eliminating its 20 percent uranium stockpile and giving the IAEA unprecedented access to its nuclear sites.

Yet Iran says that the latest Western demands are “excessive” and that they cannot possibly be agreed to, while the US is portraying Iran’s reluctance as proof they aren’t serious about making a deal.

The big problem seems to be on civilian enrichment of uranium, with Iran seeking to be self-sufficient on 3.5 percent enrichment, and the US pressing for Iran to not only rule out expansion toward self-sufficiency, but to shutter much of its existing capacity.

http://news.antiwar.com/2014/06/20/iran-nuclear-talks-stall-over-excessive-demands/