A policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations says there is a need for "major political compromises" without any delay so that Iran and the major powers can reach a final deal over Tehran's nuclear program.
In an opinion piece published by the New York Times on Sunday, Ellie Geranmayeh wrote, "If a framework agreement can't be reached in March, the talks could become mired in stalemate. Those who oppose any diplomacy between Iran and the West are already seeking to end the process altogether. With time, they will gain further ammunition."
"Spoilers have been striking… Some are trying to limit the ability of President Barack Obama to deliver a reasonable sanctions-relief package to Iran. Others are seeking to corner Iran and force its government into knee-jerk reactions to regional flare-ups. (Critics) in the United States and Iran see the nuclear negotiations as an opportunity to score points domestically and they are escalating their efforts to scuttle a grand bargain," she added.
Myopic Congress
Geranmayeh, elsewhere, said, "Powerful American legislators, influential lobby groups and the Israeli prime minister have repeatedly called for increased economic pressure on Iran to extract further concessions."
She cautioned against such a scenario by saying, "Not only does this contradict America's interest in maintaining the freeze on Iran's nuclear program, but it also devalues the agreement brokered between Iran and France, Britain, Russia, China, America and Germany."
"Spoiler threats by American lawmakers to impose further sanctions on Iran have already poisoned the spirit of the talks and created doubt among Iranians about whether the United States is able and willing to deliver on its promises. This has provoked (critics) in Tehran to respond with their own threats that Iran would increase its enrichment capacity should new sanctions pass," she commented.
"The extension of negotiations has prevented a return to hostile rhetoric between Iran and the West. But tepid progress without any major concessions is a blessing for spoilers, who will use the additional time to sabotage diplomacy."
She said Washington should "not allow a myopic and obstructionist Congress to derail a deal that is in Washington's long-term interest and strengthens global security."
