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BY MATT PICHT
After two days, tense negotiations between Iran and six major world powers concluded
Thursday in Baghdad. But, at least they’re still talking. Here’s Al Jazeera.
“We will go back to our respective capitals and consult. We will maintain intensive contacts
with our Iranian counterparts to prepare a further meeting in Moscow.”
Iran came to the table looking for an easing of sanctions, while the major powers wanted
Iran to cut back its uranium enrichment program. Not much progress was made and another round
of talks is scheduled for June 18th and 19th in Moscow. The Telegraph reports...
“Diplomats said the fact that detailed discussion of key issues had taken place at all amounted
to progress in itself, but there was little sign of any deal.”
The stalemate has been poorly received by many Western analysts. Fox News’s KT Mcfarland
says postponing negotiations only gives Iran more time to develop nuclear weapons.
“What they’re doing is playing for time. Why? Because they know the minute they become
a nuclear weapon state, everything changes. They become the dominant power in the Middle
East.”
But for some, scant progress is still progress, and some people are still optimistic about
a diplomatic resolution. An anonymous official told The New York Times...
“We’re getting to things that matter ... Even if we disagree on the shape, we think there
is the beginning of a negotiation.”