(National Interest) Ephraim Asculai and Emily B. Landau - The decision to extend nuclear negotiations between Iran and the P5+1 beyond the July 20 deadline, giving Iran access to an additional $2.8 billion of its restricted assets, sends a problematic message that there are no negative consequences for not reaching a deal. With absolutely no indication of any softening of Iran's steadfast intransigence on the nuclear front - if anything, positions have hardened - what could have convinced the Secretary of State that there was suddenly reason to believe that the next four months might see the significant Iranian concessions that had proven elusive in the previous six? There is ample reason to believe that an agreement with Iran will be no more achievable in four months than it is now. The international community cannot enable Iran to continue the interim situation indefinitely in this manner, with a very short breakout time. It must clarify to Iran that this is not an option. Ephraim Asculai is a Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) and a former senior scientist at the Israel Atomic Energy Commission. Emily B. Landau is Head of the Arms Control Program at INSS at Tel Aviv University.
2014-08-01 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive