Iran-U.S. Differences Over Nuclear Deal Widen

Two weeks after world powers and Iran announced a framework agreement to curb Iran's nuclear program, widening gaps between the two sides are emerging.

As negotiators prepare to start working on a final agreement in Vienna next Wednesday, the United States and Iran are at odds on key issues that form the basis of the deal unveiled April 2 in Switzerland.

They include when economic sanctions on Iran will be lifted, the number of machines Iran can keep to process uranium and length of the final agreement.

The six world powers — the United States, Britain, France, Russia, China and Germany — and Iran have set a deadline of June 30 for a comprehensive deal that would curb Iran's nuclear program and ensure it is for peaceful uses, as Iran claims. In return, sanctions that have crippled Iran's economy would be lifted.

That will not be an easy task, given the sizable differences that must be resolved.

… 

Mark Dubowitz of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, an opponent of a deal, expressed worries that Obama will make new concessions to Iran to reach an agreement. “President Obama wants a deal and will back 'creative negotiations,' in his own words, to bridge remaining gaps on these issues,” he said.

… 

Read full article here.