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Kerry and Iran Minister Confer on Nuclear Issue Kerry and Iran Minister Confer on Nuclear Issue
(7 months later)
MUNICH — Iran’s foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, met for an hour on Sunday with Secretary of State John Kerry, another sign of serious efforts to solve the crisis around Iran’s nuclear program. The two met on the margins of the Munich Security Conference here, and Mr. Zarif later said on a public panel that Iran “will go to those negotiations with the political will and good faith to reach an agreement.” MUNICH — Iran’s foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, met for an hour on Sunday with Secretary of State John Kerry, another sign of serious efforts to solve the crisis around Iran’s nuclear program. The two met on the margins of the Munich Security Conference here, and Mr. Zarif later said on a public panel that Iran “will go to those negotiations with the political will and good faith to reach an agreement.”
According to American officials, Mr. Kerry “reiterated the importance of both sides negotiating in good faith” when talks aimed at a comprehensive deal begin Feb. 18 in Vienna. Mr. Kerry also urged Iran to keep to “its commitments” under an initial temporary deal agreed upon in November. Mr. Kerry told Mr. Zarif that the United States would continue to enforce existing sanctions, the officials said, but also emphasized that Washington would keep its commitment not to create new sanctions while the temporary, six-month deal was in force.According to American officials, Mr. Kerry “reiterated the importance of both sides negotiating in good faith” when talks aimed at a comprehensive deal begin Feb. 18 in Vienna. Mr. Kerry also urged Iran to keep to “its commitments” under an initial temporary deal agreed upon in November. Mr. Kerry told Mr. Zarif that the United States would continue to enforce existing sanctions, the officials said, but also emphasized that Washington would keep its commitment not to create new sanctions while the temporary, six-month deal was in force.
Mr. Zarif said publicly that Iran wanted to negotiate seriously for as long as necessary, which could take longer than six months, and he offered to begin a dialogue on human rights issues with the European Union. He said Iran and the world were at a crossroads, despite decades of mistrust on both sides. “The opportunity is there, and we need to seize it,” he said.Mr. Zarif said publicly that Iran wanted to negotiate seriously for as long as necessary, which could take longer than six months, and he offered to begin a dialogue on human rights issues with the European Union. He said Iran and the world were at a crossroads, despite decades of mistrust on both sides. “The opportunity is there, and we need to seize it,” he said.
He said Iran was fully cooperating with the International Atomic Energy Agency, the organization that monitors compliance with the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, which Iran has signed. The agency’s director, Yukiya Amano, on the same panel, said that Iran was complying so far but that important questions about its nuclear program, which Iran insists has no military component, remained to be clarified.He said Iran was fully cooperating with the International Atomic Energy Agency, the organization that monitors compliance with the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, which Iran has signed. The agency’s director, Yukiya Amano, on the same panel, said that Iran was complying so far but that important questions about its nuclear program, which Iran insists has no military component, remained to be clarified.
Mr. Zarif acknowledged the point, saying, “There are important questions, and we are prepared to address them.”Mr. Zarif acknowledged the point, saying, “There are important questions, and we are prepared to address them.”
Under the six-month deal with the members of the United Nations Security Council and Germany, Iran agreed to halt its enrichment of uranium to 20 percent, close to military grade, and to convert or dilute its current stock of such uranium, while continuing to enrich at lower levels. In return, the European Union and the United States agreed to lift certain sanctions temporarily and return $4.2 billion of Iran’s assets, previously frozen, in eight installments over six months.Under the six-month deal with the members of the United Nations Security Council and Germany, Iran agreed to halt its enrichment of uranium to 20 percent, close to military grade, and to convert or dilute its current stock of such uranium, while continuing to enrich at lower levels. In return, the European Union and the United States agreed to lift certain sanctions temporarily and return $4.2 billion of Iran’s assets, previously frozen, in eight installments over six months.
A comprehensive deal is expected to be difficult to achieve, but Iran and the United States seem committed to trying — Iran to end its isolation and the sanctions imposed upon it, and Washington to solve at least one big Middle East problem and avoid the possibility of military action to prevent the development of an Iranian bomb. A failure of the talks would bring the military option quickly back to the fore.A comprehensive deal is expected to be difficult to achieve, but Iran and the United States seem committed to trying — Iran to end its isolation and the sanctions imposed upon it, and Washington to solve at least one big Middle East problem and avoid the possibility of military action to prevent the development of an Iranian bomb. A failure of the talks would bring the military option quickly back to the fore.
Senator John McCain, the Arizona Republican, who was at the conference, was critical of the Obama administration’s policy in the Middle East and said Iran had a long history of deception around its nuclear program. He advised a policy of “don’t trust, but verify” with Iran, while Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon of Israel, speaking separately, castigated Iran as being dedicated to a nuclear weapon and acting to deceive, and he repeated Israel’s warning that it would not allow Iran to get a nuclear weapon, a commitment also made by President Obama.Senator John McCain, the Arizona Republican, who was at the conference, was critical of the Obama administration’s policy in the Middle East and said Iran had a long history of deception around its nuclear program. He advised a policy of “don’t trust, but verify” with Iran, while Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon of Israel, speaking separately, castigated Iran as being dedicated to a nuclear weapon and acting to deceive, and he repeated Israel’s warning that it would not allow Iran to get a nuclear weapon, a commitment also made by President Obama.
Mr. Kerry also spoke to Mr. Zarif about the delay in moving Syrian chemical weapons to port, to be shipped out of Syria, and about the dire situation of refugees and displaced people in besieged areas of Syria. Shiite Iran is a close ally of President Bashar al-Assad of Syria and has provided crucial military and financial support to him, but Mr. Zarif told Mr. Kerry that he was not authorized to discuss Syria. Iran’s policy on Syria is not controlled by the Foreign Ministry.Mr. Kerry also spoke to Mr. Zarif about the delay in moving Syrian chemical weapons to port, to be shipped out of Syria, and about the dire situation of refugees and displaced people in besieged areas of Syria. Shiite Iran is a close ally of President Bashar al-Assad of Syria and has provided crucial military and financial support to him, but Mr. Zarif told Mr. Kerry that he was not authorized to discuss Syria. Iran’s policy on Syria is not controlled by the Foreign Ministry.
Mr. Kerry also raised the cases of three American citizens detained or missing in Iran and urged that they be returned to their homes.Mr. Kerry also raised the cases of three American citizens detained or missing in Iran and urged that they be returned to their homes.
Also on Sunday, Mr. Kerry found himself at the center of a dispute a day after warning that the risk of foreign boycotts of Israel over its policies toward the Palestinians would intensify should his current Middle East peace effort fail.Also on Sunday, Mr. Kerry found himself at the center of a dispute a day after warning that the risk of foreign boycotts of Israel over its policies toward the Palestinians would intensify should his current Middle East peace effort fail.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel and some of his senior ministers on Sunday strongly criticized those who are threatening a boycott of Israel. “Attempts to impose a boycott on the state of Israel are immoral and unjust,” Mr. Netanyahu said at the start of his weekly cabinet meeting. “Moreover, they will not achieve their goal.”Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel and some of his senior ministers on Sunday strongly criticized those who are threatening a boycott of Israel. “Attempts to impose a boycott on the state of Israel are immoral and unjust,” Mr. Netanyahu said at the start of his weekly cabinet meeting. “Moreover, they will not achieve their goal.”
In a swift response, the State Department said Mr. Kerry had always opposed calls for boycotts and expected “all parties to accurately portray his record and statements.”In a swift response, the State Department said Mr. Kerry had always opposed calls for boycotts and expected “all parties to accurately portray his record and statements.”
Jennifer Psaki, a State Department spokeswoman, said Mr. Kerry “described some well-known and previously stated facts about what is at stake for both sides if this process fails, including the consequences for the Palestinians.”Jennifer Psaki, a State Department spokeswoman, said Mr. Kerry “described some well-known and previously stated facts about what is at stake for both sides if this process fails, including the consequences for the Palestinians.”
“His only reference to a boycott was a description of actions undertaken by others that he has always opposed,” she added.“His only reference to a boycott was a description of actions undertaken by others that he has always opposed,” she added.