Breakthrough Deal Reached With Iran Over Its Nuclear Program

Substantive negotiations with Iran involving the US, UK, Germany France, Russia and China have led to an interim agreement signed last night that achieves a first step toward diplomatic agreement regarding its nuclear program.

The agreement will halt progress of Iran’s nuclear program and even roll back parts of it. In return, Iran will get a temporary easing of some sanctions.

“It achieves a great deal,” said President Obama. “For the first time in nearly a decade, we have halted the progress of the Iranian nuclear program, and key parts of the program will be rolled back.”

The deal, reached during a marathon session in Geneva that ended at 3:00 am, represents a historic breakthrough in the world’s decade-long nuclear standoff with Iran, and in the 35-year-long diplomatic freeze between Iran and the United States.

Obama spoke personally with Iran’s new president Hassan Rouhani earlier this fall. Rouhani sees the deal as an assertion of Iran’s right to nuclear energy.

Secretary of State John Kerry said the next phase of negotiations – while even more difficult – will also be more consequential, because the ultimate goal of a comprehensive agreement will make the world safer.

(READ the details from NBC News)

Photo of by Iran’s president meeting with EU leaders – by Mojtaba Salimi – CC