U.S. to give Iran $11.9 billion through end of nuke talks

[Viligant_Warrior]

U.S. to Award Iran $11.9 Billion Through End of Nuke Talks

The Obama administration on Wednesday paid $490 million in cash assets to Iran and will have released a total of $11.9 billion to the Islamic Republic by the time nuclear talks are scheduled to end in June, according to figures provided by the State Department.

Today’s $490 million release, the third such payment of this amount since Dec. 10, was agreed to by the Obama administration under the parameters of another extension in negotiations over Teheran’s contested nuclear program that was inked in November.

This has been going on since the talks began.

2013: Talks underway; Obama sends $4.2 billion for Iran's agreement to come to the table in the first place.

2014: Iran threatens to walk away from the table; Obama sends an additional $2.8 billion to "keep them interested."

December 10 through today: Three payments of $490 million each, sending an additional $1.47 billion toward the eventual $11.9 billion total by June 22 when the current round of talks "expire."

Has anyone bothered to consider we're actually financing Iran's nuclear program?

 

[GodIsSalvation]

This has been going on since the talks began.

2013: Talks underway; Obama sends $4.2 billion for Iran's agreement to come to the table in the first place.

2014: Iran threatens to walk away from the table; Obama sends an additional $2.8 billion to "keep them interested."

December 10 through today: Three payments of $490 million each, sending an additional $1.47 billion toward the eventual $11.9 billion total by June 22 when the current round of talks "expire."

Has anyone bothered to consider we're actually financing Iran's nuclear program?

This is old news. Was against it myself, but as it is America has all ready agreed to this deal so as long as Iran does not nullify the agreement from now to June this money will have to go to them.

 

[Viligant_Warrior]

This is old news. Was against it myself, but as it is America has all ready agreed to this deal so as long as Iran does not nullify the agreement from now to June this money will have to go to them.

They've nullified the original agreement by not being faithful to making progress in the talks. There has been no grounds to renew the accord -- twice now -- but that hasn't stopped this insipid administration from blindly charging down the path, thrashing around until they crash into a tree.

... or a nuke.

 

[GodIsSalvation]

They've nullified the original agreement by not being faithful to making progress in the talks. There has been no grounds to renew the accord -- twice now -- but that hasn't stopped this insipid administration from blindly charging down the path, thrashing around until they crash into a tree.

... or a nuke.

Not sure what you mean by renew the talks or the accord. The accord was all ready written and agreed to accordingly. According to the accord, after June, pending things go ideally to the current agreement, a time of 6 months for negotiations will commence and after 6 months time a new agreement drafted to be agreed or declined by all the parties involved.

Here's a pretty good outline of the current agreement which has all ready been agreed to back in 2013:
The Iran nuclear deal: full text - CNN.com

 

[Viligant_Warrior]

Not sure what you mean by renew the talks or the accord. The accord was all ready written and agreed to accordingly.

The timeframe for the talks was finite. An agreement was to be reached in a certain amount of time, or the agreement would be nullified. Instead, this administration chose to extend the talks -- and bribed Iran with $$$ -- when there is no reason whatsoever to believe Iran is interested in abandoning it's nuclear program.

Continuing the talks is a waste of time, effort, and obviously, of money. Iran is unrepentant, but will continue to take our money until we wake up one day to see them announce themselves as a nuclear power -- an announcement they may attempt to make by detonating a nuke over Tel Aviv.

 

[GodIsSalvation]

The timeframe for the talks was finite. An agreement was to be reached in a certain amount of time, or the agreement would be nullified. Instead, this administration chose to extend the talks -- and bribed Iran with $$$ -- when there is no reason whatsoever to believe Iran is interested in abandoning it's nuclear program.

Continuing the talks is a waste of time, effort, and obviously, of money. Iran is unrepentant, but will continue to take our money until we wake up one day to see them announce themselves as a nuclear power -- an announcement they may attempt to make by detonating a nuke over Tel Aviv.

What talks? They all ready talked. This is what America and Iran and other party nations agreed to from those talks. They have agreed they will hold more talks after this agreement is fulfilled.

Yea Iran may continue to pursue nuclear weapons, however insofar as this particular agreement is concerned they were never asked, nor did they agree to cease.

It is something of a gambit indeed. The security is Iran is prevented from dropping nukes for the duration of this agreement and then due to degradation of capabilities resulting from the agreement their nuclear program is stalled. The gamble is two-fold in that after the expiration of the agreement Iran will continue to negotiate for the 6 months afterwards and of course the bigger gamble that another more comprehensive agreement can be reached thereafter.

It's true indeed Iran is not to be trusted. I also think this is a bad deal as US and others give up way too much for so little, but nonetheless a deal is a deal. Plus this is not even a new deal anymore, it is even almost expired.

 

[Viligant_Warrior]

What talks? They all ready talked ... They have agreed they will hold more talks ...

Absolutely brilliant. You think because they agreed in their talks to hold more talks -- to keep talking but doining nothing, in other words -- that anything "progresses"? Update your resumé and send it to State. You're the perfect Kerry clone.

... after this agreement is fulfilled.

"Agreement is fulfilled" for what? Sending money to Iran, getting nothing out of them in the way of concessions, and sending more money to Iran??

Sweet deal -- for Iran. For the rest of the world? Meh.

Yea Iran may continue to pursue nuclear weapons, however insofar as this particular agreement is concerned they were never asked, nor did they agree to cease.

Nonetheless, the alleged entire purpose of the program was to avoid Iranian development of a nuclear weapon. Only now, after months and months of useless talks, and billions and billions of dollars changing from U.S. to Iranian ownership, that apparently isn't what we're trying to do at all.

Obama Administration: Our Goal is Not to Eliminate Iran’s Nuke Program

A senior official in the State Department admitted on Wednesday that the Obama administration’s goal during negotiations with Iran is delaying the regime’s development of nuclear weapons rather than shutting down the Islamic Republic’s contested nuclear program.

Leading senators on both sides of the aisle grilled Blinken and other officials in the administration over Iran’s nuclear program, which has continued despite restrictions imposed under an interim nuclear agreement made in November 2013.

Many believe that the interim deal has done little to halt the program and allows the regime to continue some of its most controversial nuclear operations, including the construction of new reactors and work on ballistic missiles.

You can act like you "knew this all along" if you wish, but I'm relatively certain no one did. Certainly the men and women who had the best argument for knowing -- the members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee -- only suspected it until yesterday.

It is something of a gambit indeed. The security is Iran is prevented from dropping nukes for the duration of this agreement and then due to degradation of capabilities resulting from the agreement their nuclear program is stalled.

There is no guarantee of any of that. Iran is unfettered in continuing development of a nuclear program, and obviously are using U.S. money to pay for it -- money allegedly being given to Iran to "interest" them in continuing talks to eliminate the very nuclear program under development the "agreement" does nothing to prevent.

As I said, update that resumé. You are obviously perfect fluent in State doublespeak.

 

[kennethcadwell]

Iran will continue their pursuit for a nuclear weapon no matter what we do.
Is going about causing strife with them the best road to take, or to negotiate and monitor their program to make sure they don't go beyond their parameters. Remember Iran threatened back in 2012 that they have sleeper cells inside the U.S. if anything should happen to them, as in a attack.

Iran Has Sleeper Cells in U.S. Ready to Attack

 

[dcontroversal]

Maybe we should go ahead and nuke Israel and ourselves to get it over with.........not to mention that Israel announced today that Iran has a new ballistic missile........a bunch of mo---rons running this country!

 

[Kencore]

And not to mention that Iran and Russia just signed a military agreement. Wow what's really going on!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ucbjT4G3A5w

 

[GodIsSalvation]

Absolutely brilliant. You think because they agreed in their talks to hold more talks -- to keep talking but doining nothing, in other words -- that anything "progresses"? Update your resumé and send it to State. You're the perfect Kerry clone.

I never called it progress, that's what you said. I am merely telling you what it is your government is doing seeing as you clearly don't understand.

"Agreement is fulfilled" for what? Sending money to Iran, getting nothing out of them in the way of concessions, and sending more money to Iran??

Sweet deal -- for Iran. For the rest of the world? Meh.

Yup pretty much. That is what America agreed to. Even for a good part of it wrote up itself.

Nonetheless, the alleged entire purpose of the program was to avoid Iranian development of a nuclear weapon. Only now, after months and months of useless talks, and billions and billions of dollars changing from U.S. to Iranian ownership, that apparently isn't what we're trying to do at all.

Yea they claim the intention is to halt the program. Of course intention don't mean much. What will really happen is to be seen though, and obviously this deal at best stalls it only for a few paltry months. Also one little note here, is that most the money is not "changing hands." Most the money is all ready Iran's own money that has been frozen. The 11.9 billion is even only a fraction of Iran's frozen assets.

You can act like you "knew this all along" if you wish, but I'm relatively certain no one did. Certainly the men and women who had the best argument for knowing -- the members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee -- only suspected it until yesterday.

I've known about this since they publicized it in 2013. Go see the article I posted above from CNN summarizing the agreement. It was published in 2013. I saw that same article when it was published, so that's how long I've known about it.

There is no guarantee of any of that. Iran is unfettered in continuing development of a nuclear program, and obviously are using U.S. money to pay for it -- money allegedly being given to Iran to "interest" them in continuing talks to eliminate the very nuclear program under development the "agreement" does nothing to prevent.

Aye there is no gurantee Iran will stop their nuclear program. As it stands neither America nor Iran agreed to such gurantees. They only agreed to what is in the agreement. Again as for the money, it's not coming out of the US pocket, it is Iran's own frozen assets. Again the talks are over, so that is a moot point. The money given to them is all ready agreed upon.

As I said, update that resumé. You are obviously perfect fluent in State doublespeak.

Again I have only told you what this is and what the parties involved have agreed to. I have even told you my personal viewpoint on this that I reckon it a bad deal. You can keep your baseless accusations and mockery to yourself.

 

[prodigal]

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[GodIsSalvation]

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I get the sentiment, but it is truth that the current Iranian regime will not be our friends. We trully cannot expect Iran to be a friend because of the history with the regime (which is still within living memory) and due to the regime's beliefs and goals. At best we can only hope for a fragile, uneasy, and temporary peace.

The issue here is that a deal is a deal, and America cannot go back on its deal, which it largely crafted itself. Perhaps the first error was dealing with the Twelvers at all. As it is America has all ready dealt with Iran, and if America and the West is to continue dealing with Iran, they should be more prudent when this agreement expires and the next round of negotiations begins.

 

[Viligant_Warrior]

I get the sentiment, but it is truth that the current Iranian regime will not be our friends.

I'm pretty sure Obama, Kerry and President Jarrett don't understand that.

 

[GodIsSalvation]

I'm pretty sure Obama, Kerry and President Jarrett don't understand that.

I think their sentiment is in the right place. They just seem to want to try to stop Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and to prevent the hardliners in US politics from making war on Iran (indeed the hardliners are all too open about this). A war with Iran would be a disaster for America, even if it did succeed in destroying the regime. Likewise allowing them to acquire nuclear weapons is also no good.

Indeed though, I do think Obama is not playing his hand strong enough. However, don't throw it all out at once. Due to the rise of the Islamic State, there is actually a rare window of opportunity to get Iran to drop their nuclear weapons program. As it is that the Islamic State has promised to drive to Tehran, Iran ironically needs America to support Iraq. At the least this forces Iran to deal with the West, namely America, and also gives America a certain amount of leverage. Indeed Obama should ask for more.

It's still a big gamble though, you can never be too sure with Iran, or with the Middle East politics all together. We will simply have to see how the lot falls I suppose.

 

[Viligant_Warrior]

I think their sentiment is in the right place. They just seem to want to try to stop Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons ...

Then their methods leave a great deal to be desired. Giving them a billion dollars every three weeks or so just to keep them interested in talking is a pitifully naïve strategy. It isn't doing squat to stop anything and is in fact providing financing to complete their bomb project.

... and to prevent the hardliners in US politics from making war on Iran (indeed the hardliners are all too open about this).

By "hardliners" I'm assuming you mean Republicans and anyone else who doesn't want to see Iran get a nuke. I guess from the soft, Miquetoastesque approach leftists want to take, that appears "hardline" but it is nothing more than common sense, something of which Obama, Kerry, and President Jarrett have considerable lack.

And I defy you to quote anyone who has openly advocated a shooting war with Iran.

A war with Iran would be a disaster for America, even if it did succeed in destroying the regime. Likewise allowing them to acquire nuclear weapons is also no good.

Sanctions, bans on technology, etc., were working under Bush. Since Obama/Jarrett took office, the acquisition efforts have accelerated and are within a few months of succeeding.

Indeed though, I do think Obama is not playing his hand strong enough.

That's a monumental understatement.

However, don't throw it all out at once. Due to the rise of the Islamic State, there is actually a rare window of opportunity to get Iran to drop their nuclear weapons program.

It is exactly the opposite. With King Abdullah dead, Yemen's government having fallen, and the chaos in Iraq and Syria, Iran will use this opportunity to rise up and take over the Islamic movement, with the added benefit wiping out ISIS would be for the Shi'a sect. They would rid themselves once and for all of the "Sunni problem." A bonus would be a nuclear weapons program to make them an instant world power.

As it is that the Islamic State has promised to drive to Tehran, Iran ironically needs America to support Iraq.

Iran is too convoluted theologically to ever admit to such a need, even if it is valid. Ironically, the first use of their nuclear weapons might just be against other Muslims, i.e., ISIS.

At the least this forces Iran to deal with the West ...

Now you're thinking like Obama. Khahmenei will never, ever turn to the U.S. for anything.

It's still a big gamble though ...

More like wild-eyed fantasy.

 

[GodIsSalvation]

Then their methods leave a great deal to be desired. Giving them a billion dollars every three weeks or so just to keep them interested in talking is a pitifully naïve strategy. It isn't doing squat to stop anything and is in fact providing financing to complete their bomb project.

Aye their methods are questionable. Again, the talks are over. You must wait til after June to talk about talks. We are releasing Iran's frozen assets because of agreement. A deal is a deal no matter the fact both you and I agree that this is not a good deal.

By "hardliners" I'm assuming you mean Republicans and anyone else who doesn't want to see Iran get a nuke. I guess from the soft, Miquetoastesque approach leftists want to take, that appears "hardline" but it is nothing more than common sense, something of which Obama, Kerry, and President Jarrett have considerable lack.

By hardliners I mean the typical warhawks. Yea, a good number of them are GOP, but I think some people might be surprised just how many of the long-time Dems are hardliners too.

And I defy you to quote anyone who has openly advocated a shooting war with Iran.

What, you never heard McCain's Bomb Iran song?

Sanctions, bans on technology, etc., were working under Bush. Since Obama/Jarrett took office, the acquisition efforts have accelerated and are within a few months of succeeding.

Yea, well that's old news now ain't it?

That's a monumental understatement.

Fair enough.

It is exactly the opposite. With King Abdullah dead, Yemen's government having fallen, and the chaos in Iraq and Syria, Iran will use this opportunity to rise up and take over the Islamic movement, with the added benefit wiping out ISIS would be for the Shi'a sect. They would rid themselves once and for all of the "Sunni problem." A bonus would be a nuclear weapons program to make them an instant world power.

What, does Saudi Arabia now dictate America? Iran will not prevail over the Islamic State. Iran has all ready been fighting them. Iran sent their elite Republican Guard in on Assad's side of the Syria campaign years back. So they have all ready been fighting and losing to the Islamic State.

Iran is too convoluted theologically to ever admit to such a need, even if it is valid. Ironically, the first use of their nuclear weapons might just be against other Muslims, i.e., ISIS.

Yea they might not admit it out in public, but the fact they even came to the table does prove their need. There is also some reports of talks from last year between Iran and America in regards to the Iraq issue. Seems to me Iran is rightly concerned that if Iraq falls, the Islamic State will be at their door.

Now you're thinking like Obama. Khahmenei will never, ever turn to the U.S. for anything.

Khameini sure sends Rouhani to talk with the West and Obama a good bit.

More like wild-eyed fantasy

Well that fantasy sure looks like it's become reality. We'll have to watch and see how the lot falls.

 

[Viligant_Warrior]

Aye their methods are questionable. Again, the talks are over.

You keep saying that, and that makes you obviously clueless in that regard.

Implementation of the Joint Plan of Action
On November 24, 2013, Iran and the P5+1 (China, France, Germany, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States) reached an interim deal on Iran’s nuclear program. The agreement, or Joint Plan of Action, required Iran and the P5+1 countries to take specific steps over six-months while negotiators worked on a comprehensive deal.

Those "six-months" during which negotiations have continued has now stretched out to 18 months, now scheduled to end in June, but which have now been considered for further extension by Kerry, when he said they may even stretch beyond that. If so, that would be the fifth extension of what was supposed to be resolved in six months. Your insistence that the talks are over is completely uninformed, so the oint of continuing a discussion with you is questionable at best. That opinion is further supported by this nonsense statement later in your post..

What, does Saudi Arabia now dictate America?

The fact you utterly fail to realize that Saudi Arabia under King Abdullah has acted as a buffer, perhaps even fair to say a roadblock, to Iran influence over and hegemonic efforts regarding the radical factions of the Mideast shouldn't surprise me, given the woefully poor analysis of the situation with Iran in your previous posts. Giving further credence to my questioning of why I would continue this debate. I will again point out that Abdullah's death, Yemen's collapse, and the ISIS threat, Iran has a perfect opportunity to have hegemony realized, not just sought after.

 

[GodIsSalvation]

You keep saying that, and that makes you obviously clueless in that regard.



Those "six-months" during which negotiations have continued has now stretched out to 18 months, now scheduled to end in June, but which have now been considered for further extension by Kerry, when he said they may even stretch beyond that. If so, that would be the fifth extension of what was supposed to be resolved in six months. Your insistence that the talks are over is completely uninformed, so the oint of continuing a discussion with you is questionable at best. That opinion is further supported by this nonsense statement later in your post.

And again the money which is the issue here, is what they all ready agreed upon. That is your interim agreement. The money has not been fully released yet. You will have to wait until that agreement expires in June. After that they have agreed to talk for 6 months about a possible new agreement. I refer you back to the article I all ready posted that details all points of the agreement. It is very clearly written.

The fact you utterly fail to realize that Saudi Arabia under King Abdullah has acted as a buffer, perhaps even fair to say a roadblock, to Iran influence over and hegemonic efforts regarding the radical factions of the Mideast shouldn't surprise me, given the woefully poor analysis of the situation with Iran in your previous posts. Giving further credence to my questioning of why I would continue this debate. I will again point out that Abdullah's death, Yemen's collapse, and the ISIS threat, Iran has a perfect opportunity to have hegemony realized, not just sought after.

Saudi Arabia is perhaps the biggest funder of terrorism and one of the biggest human rights abusing regimes of the current time. What sort of buffer is that? As for hegemony in the Middle East, no one has that. Aye, in fact no one has since the Ottomans. You do over-estimate Iran, they are not nearly as influential or powerful as you might think. The fact that their biggest Mideast ally, Syria, was torn asunder and that even their elite troops cannot prevail over the Islamic State testifies to that. The fact that Iran must rely on America to prop up Iraq does testify to that. What, you forget about Turkey and Egypt and Pakistan?

As for Yemen that country collapsed long ago. Between fighting a civil war for many years, the unofficial US drone war there, Saleh catching an RPG and resigning, and now fighting in Sanaa they clearly are in a state of constant collapse.