Iran Does Not Want An Actual Written Accord On Its Nuclear Program

John Kerry and Mohammad Javad Zarif in Lausanne. Kerry has urged Iran to make concessions that would lift sanctions in exchange for restrictions on Tehran’s nuclear programme. Photograph: Reuters

New York Times: In Nuclear Talks, Iran Seeks to Avoid Specifics

PARIS — If an agreement to limit Iran’s nuclear capability is reached by deadline in the next seven days, one thing may be missing: an actual written accord, signed by the Iranians.

Over the past few weeks, Iran has increasingly resisted any kind of formal “framework” agreement at this stage in the negotiations, preferring a more general statement of “understanding” followed by a final accord in June, according to Western diplomats involved in the talks.

Should that position hold — one of the many unknowns of the coming days — the United States and its five negotiating partners may find themselves in the uncomfortable position of describing the accord as they understand it while the Iranians go home to offer their own version.

WNU Editor: This apparently is where we are right now on an Iranian nuclear deal ....

.... If an agreement to limit Iran’s nuclear capability is reached by deadline in the next seven days, one thing may be missing: an actual written accord, signed by the Iranians.

If this New York Times article is accurate .... it appears that the U.S. and Iran are going to have a "gentleman's agreement" rather than a written agreement .... and as to specifics .... it will even be more murky.

And President Obama's allies are wondering why he has few allies on this issue ?!?!?!.... Obama has few allies on Iran (The Hill).

Update: It looks like an Iranian accord is about to be reached .... Kerry flies to Switzerland for make-or-break Iran nuke talks (AP).