Observing that the US is working with partners to reach a first phase agreement with Iran that will halt progress on its controversial nuclear programme and roll it back in key ways, Washington has said there are signs that Tehran is serious for the first time about a deal.
"We are working with our P5+1 partners to reach a six-month, first phase agreement with the Iranians that will halt progress in their nuclear programme and roll it back in key ways," US National Security Advisor Susan Rice said at an awards ceremony yesterday.
"The goal is to put real time on the clock, so we can negotiate a comprehensive, long-term solution that fully resolves the concerns of the international community, without Iran coming any closer to break-out while talks continue," she said.
At the same time, any economic relief that Iran might get would be limited, temporary and reversible, Rice added.
"The sanctions architecture that this administration, working with Congress, has so painstakingly built would remain wholly intact. And, since we will continue to enforce existing sanctions, the amount of revenue that Iran will lose during the next six months would far exceed any amount of relief they might obtain as part of a first step agreement," she said.
"For the first time in many years, we are seeing signs that Iran's leadership may be serious about a nuclear deal. This has only been possible due to five years of effort by the US to build a durable international coalition and to impose unprecedented economic and diplomatic pressure on Iran," she said.
The National Security Advisor said the two-track strategy of pressure and engagement is seemingly changing the calculus of Iran's leaders.
"We owe it to ourselves and to the world to test whether they are, in fact, serious," she said.
"The latest round of talks in Geneva was substantive, and the P5+1 stood united. But, we have not yet reached a deal. And that is because the P5+1 will not accept anything less than concrete, verifiable terms that ensure that Iran's nuclear programme will be entirely peaceful," she said.
"Talks will resume on November 21, and we aim to build on the progress of the last two rounds," Rice said.
