Russia: Very Good Chance For a Deal with Iran

Russia: Very Good Chance For a Deal with Iran

Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says that the world powers and Iran have no fundamental disagreements.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov

Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Saturday that there is a “very good chance” of reaching a long-sought deal on Iran’s nuclear program, reports RIA Novosti.
Speaking to Russian television, Lavrov said that the world powers and Iran have no fundamental disagreements.
“Now there are no fundamental disagreements on the issues that need to be resolved in practical terms,” and what is necessary is to “correctly draw up the agreement we have reached in diplomatic language to make it a truly joint document rather than the one imposed from outside,” Lavrov noted.
He added that last week’s talks in Geneva with Iran’s foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif showed for the first time in many years that the six world powers and Iran are “ready to seek common ground instead of presenting mostly uncorrelated views.”
The talks in Geneva between Iran and the six world powers came close to a deal. While they ended with no agreement and with both sides blaming each other, another round is set for November 20.
World powers and Iran are negotiating a tentative deal that would freeze some of Iran’s suspected nuclear activities in exchange for relief from crippling economic sanctions.
Lavrov’s comments seem to confirm remarks made by a senior administration official in the United States on Friday.
The official had indicated that the sides were "getting close" to an interim deal with Iran that would prevent its nuclear program "from advancing, and roll it back" in key areas.
The official added that such a deal would "extend the breakout time" that Iran would need to achieve a nuclear weapon and "shorten the time to notice if they tried.”
Israel has repeatedly warned that the deal being offered to Iran is a dangerous one and would allow it to continue its nuclear program, leading to a public fight with American officials over the issue.
On Thursday, Economics Minister Naftali Bennett delivered a speech at the Brookings Institution in Washington in which he warned against lifting the sanctions on Iran.

Egypt Gives Russian Dignitaries Red Carpet Welcome 

In an echo of the Cold War, Egypt gave the red carpet welcome Thursday to senior Russian officials aiming to expand Moscow's influence through military and economic cooperation with a key U.S. ally in the Middle East.

The flirtation underscores how U.S.-Egyptian relations have soured lately over the Obama administration's criticism of the July 3 military coup. And although Egyptian officials say the one-time Soviet client is not turning away from the United States, the military-backed government is clearly signaling it has options.

Egypt's Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmy sought to downplay speculation of a major foreign policy shift, describing the visit by Russian's foreign and defense ministers as an "activation" of existing ties and speaking positively of cooperation between the two countries "in multiple fields."

But the fact that Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Defense Minister Sergei Shogiu arrived in Cairo weeks after the United States froze millions of dollars in military aid is significant.

The officials gave no details about any arms deals being discussed.

Russia's Interfax news agency recently quoted an unidentified official of the state Rosoboron export arms trader as saying that there are no plans to sign big contracts during the Cairo talks.

It said Egypt has shown interest in purchasing Russian air defense missile systems and MiG-29 fighter jets, combat helicopters and other weapons. But it quoted an unnamed official dealing with arms trade as saying that no big deals are expected in the near future as Egypt currently can't afford it.

However, a retired Egyptian military general who maintains close ties to the present army leadership said Egypt was inching close to signing a $2 billion deal with Russia for the purchase of 24 MiG fighter-jets as well as anti-tank missiles and an air- defense system.

"Do you want us to take the (U.S.) slap on our face and remain silent? Of course not," said the retired general, Hossam Sweilam. "This pressure is not acceptable, so we returned to the Russians to maintain our fighting capabilities."

Tensions are high between Egypt and the U.S. — its chief foreign backer and benefactor since the 1970s, since the ouster of Morsi, Egypt's first freely elected president, and the subsequent crackdown on his Islamist supporters that has left hundreds dead and thousands arrested.

Lavrov and Shogiu were greeted with an honor guard and met at Defense Ministry headquarters for talks with Egypt's powerful Defense Minister and military chief, Gen. Abdel-Fatah el-Sissi, who led the coup that ousted Morsi, and his commanders.

Throughout the day, state television broadcast black-and-white archival footage of Soviet and Egyptian leaders meeting in the 1950s and 1960s, the two decades that saw the two nations forge a strategic friendship at the height of the Cold War and Egypt's wars with Israel, Washington's closest Middle East ally.

"We seek to energize a relationship that is already in existence," Fahmy told reporters later after meeting with Lavrov.

When asked whether Russia would replace the U.S. as his country's chief ally, Fahmy said Egypt was not looking for a "substitute for anyone" and that Russia was too significant for such a role.

Lavrov, speaking through an interpreter, described the meeting as "historic.