Iran’s Twitter Brushback Means Tough Path Ahead For Nuclear Deal

Within hours of an initial agreement to curb its nuclear program, Iran’s Foreign Minister Javad Zarif posted a tweet disputing a U.S. “fact sheet” on the accord.

“The solutions are good for all, as they stand,” Zarif tweeted. “There is no need to spin using ‘fact sheets’ so early on.”

The shift in tone from accord to acrimony was an early sign that the coming months may spell danger for the deal once details left vague now are filled in before the next deadline at the end of June.

Any of the potential sticking points could be enough to scuttle a deal: the pace and conditions for relief from sanctions that have crippled Iran’s economy, the disposal of much of Iran’s uranium stockpile and the extent of inspections needed to resolve possible military dimensions of the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program.

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'Good News' 

Analysts said the talks, which were described as on the verge of collapse in recent days, produced much more than they expected.

“In almost all ways, this agreement seems like good news,” said Greg Thielmann, a senior fellow at the Arms Control Association in Washington. “If it turns out to be what it promises to be, then this will clearly be a historic breakthrough agreement.”

Critics such as Mark Dubowitz, executive director of the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, who has advised U.S lawmakers writing sanctions legislation, said the deal is still too lenient on Iran.

“Iran has retained most of the essential elements of its nuclear military infrastructure,” Dubowitz said. “All of Iran’s facilities will stay open.”

He said the talk that sanctions can “snap back” if Iran violates its commitments may be unrealistic once billions of dollars of trade are under way.

“Snapback can be legally reimposed, but from a market perspective and from a political perspective, they’re very difficult to reimpose,” he said.

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