Bloomberg: Iran Deal Unlikely Before March 31 as Russia Leaves Talks
(Bloomberg) -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov planned to leave talks on Iran’s nuclear program and only return if an accord is in sight, suggesting that negotiations will continue into the final hours before a March 31 deadline.
Diplomats said obstacles remain after foreign ministers from the six powers jointly met Iranian envoys for the first time in the latest round of talks in Lausanne, Switzerland. Lavrov will return if there’s a “realistic understanding of a deal,” Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.
MIDDLE EAST
Iran nuclear talks intensify as key deadline nears. Iran nuclear talks hit hurdle ahead of deadline.
Expected Iranian nuclear deal worse than Israel feared: Netanyahu.
‘Saudi Arabia airstrikes pave way for ground invasion of Yemen’. Airstrikes pound Yemen's capital.
Iran says US drone kills 2 advisers in Iraq; US denies claim.
Syria crisis: Idlib 'captured by Islamist groups'.
Turkey moves to close all gates at border with Syria.
UN Chief Ban in Baghdad for talks.
Former Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert found guilty of corruption.
ASIA
Clashes with Taliban halt supply of power in south Afghanistan.
N.Korea 'poised to deploy long-range missiles'.
China won't let North Korea join Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank as US rings alarm about lack of transparency.
Uzbekistan's leader scores landslide re-election win. Karimov wins Uzbek presidential election with 90,39% of votes.
Malaysia proposes anti-terror laws to curb Islamic militants.
Blogger hacked to death in Bangladesh.
China probes senior power official for graft.
AFRICA
Nigeria tensely awaits first results in closely fought election. Nigerians await Presidential election result. Nigeria election: First results expected.
Guinea declares Ebola 'health emergency' in five regions.
Libya tells Arab summit arms embargo must be lifted to fight IS.
Tunis Bardo Museum attack: Thousands join protest march.
South Sudan food crisis leaves people of Ganyiel desperate for a peace deal.
Congo official: DRC will not accept UN ‘neo-colonization’.
Italy deploys ships to monitor Libyan coast.
EUROPE
Lufthansa fears second U4 9525 black box may never be found. Alps crash: Lufthansa chief fears recorder too damaged. Germanwings crash co-pilot Andreas Lubitz body parts 'found'.
Andorra on the brink of Europe's next banking crisis.
Greece says not backing down on debt relief goal. Greece and Germany in open hostility over bailout program.
One Ukrainian serviceman killed, three wounded, in clashes with rebels: Kiev military.
Investigators identify mastermind behind Nemtsov murder.
Some 3.5 tons of Afghan heroin worth $1 billion seized in Russia in 2014.
French local elections: Hollande left bruised as Sarkozy and Le Pen triumph.
Breakdown: Czech spectators give up waiting for US Army convoy after 7hr wait.
AMERICAS
One dead after gate-crashing attempt, gunfire at Fort Meade.
Obama makes first trip to Kenya as President.
Americans see Putin as only slightly more imminent threat than Obama, poll says.
Vote expected late Monday on Canada’s military mission in Iraq, Syria.
Brazil's economy grew 0.1% in 2014.
Chile floods death toll rises to 14 as clean-up begins.
Uruguay will no longer grant asylum to Guantanamo prisoners.
Air Canada plane landed short, hit antennas in Halifax accident.
TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR
US drone strikes in Yemen likely to continue - former CIA officer.
Analysis: How ISIS is different from al-Qaeda.
Feared terror group al-Qaeda discussed strategies to combat CLIMATE CHANGE.
ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS
Banks to face 'doomsday scenario' of China slowdown and eurozone crash to test financial strength.
Oil prices slip on possible Iran deal, dollar.
Fears of a new global crash as debts and dollar’s value rise.
2 comments:
So the European Union has replaced Lady Ashton with someone more attractive.
Is that supposed to make it easier to swallow a bad deal.
Heck, if it works, next time they could get Kim Kardashian to sit there nude, while negotiating & signing the agreement for Iran to nuke us.
... and it would be okay, because we saw Kim nude. Made it all better!
Lavrov's leaving is not a surprise. Iran is a Russian client; as long as the West is both a target and thus in a bind, there is no problem with Moscow. If the Arabs get worked up, well, Russia will sell to them also.
So what happens if there is a deal that is unacceptable to Israel and they bomb an Iranian nuclear facility?
I don't know. There's many possibilities:
The Israelis have a plan, tested it, and are ready to execute it.
The Israelis may need time to work up tactics and assets to take out Iran's deeply embedded facilities.
The Israelis may decide to take out the facilities' supporting infrastructure.
The Israelis may decide to take out Iran's ballistic missile facilities/production base instead.
The Israelis may resort again to covert operations.
In any case, if and when it happens, you (along with most of the rest of us) will be among the last to find out.
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