Officials cite a broad potential shopping list, from the latest Boeing 787 and Airbus A350 lightweight jets to workhorses such as the Boeing 737 and 777 or the Airbus A320 and A330 and even the most recent version of the jumbo, the Boeing 747-8, still in production but with declining sales. Why, then, will there be such a tough battle in Congress to approve a deal that the Obama administration has worked so hard to achieve and is supported by most Americans? When these measures have been taken, implementation will begin as an automatic mechanism links the finalization of Iranian measures with the lifting of Western economic, banking and financial sanctions.
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Iran and major powers gave themselves until Monday to reach a nuclear agreement, their third extension in two weeks, as Tehran accused the West of throwing up new stumbling blocks to a deal.
Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman, serving as US President Barack Obama’s chief negotiator with Iran, spoke with Israel’s National Security Advisor Yossi Cohen on Thursday.
Putin conceded that the scrapping of sanctions could see Iran ramp up oil output but said that global economy would adjust.
“It makes much greater sense to assume that the nuclear agreement’s actual, tangible benefits will immediately prop-up Iran’s hardliners”. While Treasury officials can try to reassure foreign companies by issuing public statements about legal transactions, they lack any power to actively “enforce” the lifting of sanctions.
In return, a web of painful United Nations and Western sanctions on Iran – which denies wanting the bomb – would be progressively lifted once the UN atomic watchdog verified Tehran had fulfilled its promises. IranPoll founder Amir Farmanesh further emphasizes that “There exists a very strong correlation between these assumptions/expectations and support for the deal”.
“NIAC is the same group that lobbies Congress to defund human rights and democracy promotion programs in Iran for fear of undermining the mullahs”, said one ex- senior Senate aide with intimate knowledge of Iran sanctions.
Indeed, Iranian negotiators appear to seek precisely that.
Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said the main text of the agreement, as well as five technical annexes, were “around 96 percent complete”. Takht-Ravanchi added that “it is not acceptable” for this process to be delayed.
One of the final sticking points is traditional arms.
“Iran is a consistent supporter of the struggle against ISIL and lifting the arms embargo would help Iran to advance its efficiency in fighting terrorism”, he said.
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Speaking at a summit of the BRICS countries – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – in Ufa, Russia, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the United Nations arms embargo should be among the first sanctions lifted if there is a nuclear deal.
