Analyst Expects Row between Obama, Congress over Iran Nuclear Deal
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – An American political analyst said US President Barack Obama will have to brace himself for a wrangle with the Congress over a final agreement on Iran’s peaceful nuclear program.
John D. Steinbruner, a professor of public policy at the University of Maryland’s School of Public Policy, gave Tasnim an e-mail interview, discussing different issues on a long-awaited nuclear deal between Iran and the Group 5+1 (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France and Germany).
In November, top diplomats from Iran and the six powers wrapped up a week of intensive nuclear talks in Austria’s Vienna.
The two sides have decided to extend talks on Tehran’s peaceful nuclear program for more seven months in the hope of clinching a final nuclear deal.
The following is the text of the interview with Steinbruner:
Q- After formal announcement of another 7-months extension, do you see any chance for a comprehensive agreement?
“I fear that successful conclusion of the talks will require a change of attitude and policy in the US that will be difficult to accomplish. The passing of the US-imposed Nov. 24 deadline, however, without an agreement will discredit those who insisted that Iran would capitulate under pressure.”
Q- What sort of accord do you think might be signed by the next deadline?
“I think the formula of calculating and regulating the time technically required to produce HEU (highly enriched uranium) from a given LEU (low-enriched uranium) stockpile is a promising basis for agreement.”
Q- To what extent would the US make concessions to Iran?
“The US will have to be able to say that a completed agreement reliably holds Iran a specified number of months away from producing an HEU stockpile.”
Q- Given a new Republican majority in both the House and the Senate, what sort of pressures or influence can be imposed by the US lawmakers on nuclear negotiations?
“Congress will initially attempt to reject the agreement. The president will have to attack their opposition as irresponsible. Up to his point he has not been willing to be that forceful, but at least on the immigration issue he is now determined to be quite confrontational. If he grasps what is at stake for him and for the country he may prove to be willing to be forceful on this issue as well.”
