U.S. SUGGESTS OPEN-ENDED IRAN TALKS: International powers negotiating a nuclear deal with Iran failed to meet another deadline, the second missed target in a week, raising the prospect of an open-ended diplomatic process over an issue on which President Barack Obama has staked his foreign-policy record. Senior administration officials in Vienna and Washington said progress was still being made and negotiators “have never been closer” to a comprehensive deal to curb Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for lifting international sanctions. Mr. Obama has said talks would end in a deal that reflects a framework reached in April, or with no agreement at all.
Carlos Barria/Pool photo via AP
But with negotiations making little headway, the White House laid the groundwork for a third outcome: continuing talks while keeping in place a November 2013 interim agreement that provided Iran with limited sanctions relief in exchange for rolling back parts of its nuclear program. Such an outcome would allow Mr. Obama to avoid alternatives to diplomacy to confront Iran’s nuclear program, such as military force. It gives the president political cover because the idea has support from some influential Republicans and Israel. Jay Solomon, Carol E. Lee and Laurence Norman report.
Plus: In a light-hearted nod to the historical dimensions of the Iranian nuclear talks, the U.S. negotiating team has figured out an all-star cast to re-enact the late nights and tough negotiations of the past year and a half.
–Compiled by Rebecca Ballhaus
President Barack Obama huddled with Senate Democrats Tuesday night at the White House for a social get-together that also served as an opportunity to hit the reset button after parting ways on trade legislation.
With Iran nuclear negotiations nearing an end and time running short for the president’s domestic to-do list, Mr. Obama turned to Democrats on the Hill for help advancing his policy objectives. The most immediate White House priorities include marshaling lawmakers’ support for a possible deal to curb Iran’s nuclear program, reauthorizing the U.S. Export-Import bank and passing a highway funding measure. Read Colleen McCain Nelson’s full post in Washington Wire.