Iran Steps up Rhetoric Ahead of Nuclear Deadline

As nuclear talks are set to resume in Vienna this weekend, Iran’s Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khameni stepped up his rhetoric and appeared to reject key provisions of the nuclear framework deal, which is due to be completed by the end of the month. In a live speech on Iranian television, Khamenei rejected any limits on Iran’s research and development of nuclear technology. He also said that most sanctions must be lifted before Iran curtails its nuclear program. His remarks made many who had been pushing for a nuclear deal nervous, including French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius who said that France wants a deal but not at any price. Much of the international community supports a deal, but Israel has lobbied hard against one, saying that it does not believe that Iran will hold up its end of the deal, and that Iran wants a nuclear bomb for offensive purposes. Some said that Khamenei’s remarks were meant as posturing and that Iran is committed to a deal which would lift sanctions and enable its economy to recover.