Heading Into Talks With Iran, U.S. Sees Hopeful Signs
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"American negotiators, heading into a crucial round of talks with Iran over its nuclear program next week in Baghdad, are allowing themselves a rare emotion after more than a decade of fruitless haggling with Tehran: hope.
With signs that Iran is under more pressure than it has been in years to make a deal, senior Obama administration officials said the United States and five other major powers were prepared to offer a package of inducements to obtain a verifiable agreement to suspend its efforts to enrich uranium closer to weapons grade.
These gestures, the officials said, could include easing restrictions on things like airplane parts and technical assistance to Iran’s energy industry, but not the sweeping sanctions on oil exports, which officials said would go into effect on schedule in July.
The oil sanctions, which the Iranians are seeking desperately to avoid, are one of several factors that American officials believe may make Tehran more amenable to exploring a diplomatic solution. In addition, the recent decline in oil prices has magnified the pain of the existing sanctions on Iran; a new government coalition in Israel has strengthened the hand of its hawkish leader, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu; and Americans believe that recent blustery statements from Iranian officials are laying the groundwork for concessions by Tehran."
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/19/world/middleeast/officials-see-promising-signs-for-iran-nuclear-talks.html
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"The head of the United Nations' nuclear watchdog said his agency expects to sign a deal with Iran to allow an investigation into the Islamic Republic's nuclear program.
Tuesday's announcement in Tehran by Yukiya Amano, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, came a day after talks between Amano and Iranian officials, including Iranian chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili, according to reports.
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A) decision was made to conclude and sign the agreement ... I can say it will be signed quite soon," Amano told reporters in Vienna, according to Reuters, adding that “there remain some differences."
On Wednesday, representatives of the six world powers are scheduled to meet with Jalili in Baghdad, Iraq, to discuss uranium enrichment in Iran.
Iran says its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, but the West suspects Iran is working toward building a nuclear weapon. The West has concerns that Israel may launch a preemptive strike to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.
Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak on Tuesday was skeptical of the apparent breakthrough and called on Iran to stop enriching uranium both to 3.5 percent and 20 percent."
http://www.jta.org/news/article/2012/05/22/3096161/un-nuclear-watchdog-head-says-iran-ready-to-sign-nuclear-inspection-deal
