BREAKING NEWS: Iran, major powers have reached a historic nuclear deal – Iranian diplomat

— Reuters (@Reuters) July 14, 2015

Marking an achievement sought for years, Iran and six world powers reportedly have agreed to a deal that curbs Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for relief from crippling international sanctions.

The historic deal, which was reported early Tuesday in Vienna, comes after years of wrangling between Iran and the U.S. and other world leaders who have long demanded that Iran suspend its nuclear program — which critics say could be used to build a nuclear arsenal — in exchange for tens of billions of dollars in economic sanction relief.

Iran has insisted its nuclear program is for domestic purposes, but members of the U.N. Security Council say the nation has the infrastructure to one day produce significant amounts of weapons-grade plutonium. (more…)

On Saturday, Foreign Minister Javad Zarif released a video urging the U.S. to have “courage” to compromise and reach an agreement.

…“At this 11th hour, despite some differences that remain, we have never been closer to a lasting outcome,” Zarif said. “But there is no guarantee. Getting to yes requires the courage of compromise, the self-confidence to be flexible, the maturity to be reasonable, the wisdom to set aside delusions, and the audacity to break old habits.”  (link)

Senator Tom Cotton (R-Wolverine, Arkansas) responded today:

Several former advisers to President Barack Obama have rejected the likely terms of a nuclear deal with Iran, adding their names to an open letter that declares: “The agreement will not prevent Iran from having a nuclear weapons capability”.  (link)

In the face of these increasingly loud voices, and in an effort to quickly close a deal, President Obama has given up the demand of nuclear inspections for military facilities as part of the agreement with Iran.   Now the State Dept. wants to stop the unfavorable reports ASAP….

VIENNA—Officials with the Department of State threatened to call security Monday on a Washington Free Beacon reporter who was attempting to report on a briefing held by senior Obama administration figures in Vienna on the eve of an expected nuclear agreement with Iran.

Two State Department officials booted the Free Beacon from a room where Wendy Sherman, the undersecretary of state for political affairs, was talking to reporters, despite the Free Beacon’s being credentialed by the Austrian government for the ongoing Iranian nuclear talks.

Western observers present in Vienna for the talks linked the State Department’s behavior to jitters over media coverage revealing a still growing list of concessions being made to Iran by the Obama administration. (more…)

(Via Washington Free Beacon) Sen. Ted Cruz (R., Texas) is seeking to fine the State Department for illegally withholding the release of a key report on Iranian human rights abuses that was supposed to be released earlier this year, but was withheld, according to sources, in order to appease Iran as negotiations over its nuclear program approach a June 30 deadline.

The Obama administration was legally obligated to release a full report outlining the state of Iranian human rights by Feb. 25 but has so far declined to do so.

Cruz and other senators petitioned the State Department in May to comply with federal law compelling the report’s public release. (more…)

Secretary John Kerry appears to have gained a new pair of “eyebrow merkins“. 

BOSTON – […] Kerry left Massachusetts General Hospital on crutches but under his own power. He told reporters he planned to go to his nearby home in the Beacon Hill section of Boston for a few days before traveling to Washington next week.

He promised to be “absolutely, totally and fully engaged” in nuclear negotiations with Iran, saying he remained confident the June 30 timetable for completing a deal could be achieved. He said he expected to travel overseas to join in the discussions later in the month as they neared a critical juncture.

“Our team is in Vienna right now working out very complex … details of this agreement,” Kerry said “It’s a tough slog. It’s not easy.” (read more)

The U.S. State Department, via Marie Harf, is explaining Iran’s continued expansion of nuclear material with the same logic that President Obama applies to the U.S. Debt. and deficits.
Note to those harf-minded fools:

Half of something you triple, is not “less” (than you started with).

Carry on.
WASHINGTON DC – International inspectors report that Iran’s stockpile of nuclear fuel has increased about 20 percent over the past 18 months of negotiations, according to The New York Times.

The increase in Iran’s stockpile was based on a report issued Friday by the International Atomic Energy Agency, which monitors nuclear programs for the United Nations. (more…)

(NBC) Secretary of State John Kerry suffered a broken leg in a bike accident in France early Sunday, a U.S. embassy official told NBC News.

The cycling accident occurred near Scionzier, France, about 25 miles from Geneva, where Kerry had been holding nuclear talks with Iran’s foreign minister, Javad Zarif. (more…)

This is the second time Carly Fiorina absolutely nailed a succinct answer to a complex foreign policy issue.  Within her response she cuts right to the heart of the problem the rest of the MSM and professional political class don’t want to admit exists.

More of that fundamental change we were told to expect….

(Via New York Post) Saudi Arabia will join the nuclear club by buying “off the shelf” atomic weapons from Pakistan, US officials told a London newspaper.
The Saudis — who financed much of Pakistan’s nuke program — are fearful of international efforts to keep its enemy Iran from acquiring a bomb, the Sunday Times of London reports. The Saudis think the deal, backed by President Obama, will actually accelerate Iran’s nuke push.
Saudi Arabia has talked for years about acquiring a bomb from the Pakistanis. “The House of Saud has now made the strategic decision to move forward,” a former US defense official said. (more)

If, like many of us, you are deep in the weeds in your understanding of the issues around Benghazi, the 2010 Arab Spring (Tunis, Egypt, Libya, Syria, Bahrain, Yemen), or the CIA operation “Zero Footprint” in Libya and the follow-up operation in Syria, you will enjoy this interview with former Panetta/Petraeus replacement Mike Morell.
Or, if you have a cursory understanding of events, this interview might spur you toward further research.  “The Benghazi Brief” – Regardless of your current level of understanding behind events of the past 7+ years, this interview is well constructed.
Bret Baier has done his homework, and in a refreshing and surprising manner you can see how Baier is able to cut through the distracting ‘talking points’ (no pun intended), and draw out the reality of what lies behind Morell and his foundational motives.

(more…)