November 8, 2013 | Quote
Kerry: ‘Important Gaps’ Must Be Overcome in Iran Nuclear Deal
Secretary of State John Kerry traveled to Geneva on Friday to try and “narrow the differences” with Iran on an interim agreement over its nuclear program, a proposal Israel says would be a “very bad deal” that allows Iran to keep heading toward a possible atomic bomb.
There has been no confirmation that a deal is close or details of possible elements of such a pact. But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke as if he knew what kind of offer was being discussed in Geneva by negotiators for the United States and other Western nations.
Speaking before a meeting with Kerry in Jerusalem on Friday, Netanyahu said it appears that the Iranians “got everything and paid nothing.”
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Mark Dubowitz, executive director of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, says the parts of the offer he was briefed on by the White House undercut sanctions meant to block Iran from acquiring equipment it could use to develop its nuclear program or for weapons, and to convince Iran to negotiate a solution with world powers. The plan would give Iran a cash infusion from frozen accounts it can use to expand nuclear facilities or to fund terrorism, Dubowitz said.
“It totally eviscerates the sanctions regime if you allow Iran to spend money at its discretion to fund the very nuclear program it's funding, the very nuclear program you're trying to stop, or to fund terrorist activities against American citizens,” said Dubowitz, who had proposed a different plan to allow Iran to buy non-sanctioned goods in Europe while negotiations continue.
Iran has $80 billion in foreign accounts, with unrestricted access to only $20 billion, Dubowitz said. He said he was not told the amounts under consideration in the plan.
“They told me, don't worry, it's reversible. If they cheat it won't happen again. But that's not reversible, unless you only give them 1% up front and more later.”