A Blog by the Editor of The Middle East Journal

Putting Middle Eastern Events in Cultural and Historical Context

Thursday, November 7, 2013

Breakthrough with Iran?

There's a lot of positive buzz coming out of Geneva in the past few hours, as both sides seem to be signaling optimism that a first-stage deal could be reached in outline as early as tomorrow Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif has been expressing cautious optimism about a deal, and Zarif meets EU Foreign Affairs Chief Catherine Ashton tomorrow morning.

Though the US Congress is moving ahead with more new sanctions, the Administration seems ready for a relaxation of sanctions in return for Iranian concessions, presumably limitations on the enrichment program.  Trita Parsi looks at the elements of such a deal here.

US Secretary of State John Kerry is currently in the Middle East on a 10-day tour of several countries; there's Twitter buzz that he may add a stop in Geneva.

Tomorrow just might prove rather interesting.

No comments: