Russia launched a desperate bid today to save nuclear talks between six world powers and Iran from collapse and lessen the chances of a Middle East conflict that could draw in the United States.
Failure to reach an agreement that limits Iran’s nuclear activities would increase the chances that Israel already
skeptical of diplomatic efforts to prevent Iran from building a nuclear weapon could launch an attack, a scenario that potentially could pull in the US and spread chaos throughout the Middle East.
Diplomats said the negotiations remained deadlocked as they went into a second and possibly final day, despite pleas from the presidents of the US and Russia for Iran to agree to curb nuclear activities. Iran says sanctions crippling its oil industry must be lifted before it does anything.
A top Russian official reportedly met twice with Iran’s chief envoy on the sidelines of the talks today, as the host nation tried to keep negotiations on track. Sergei Ryabkov, Russia’s deputy foreign minister, conferred with top Iranian negotiator Saeed Jalili, said one of the diplomats.
The diplomat, like others who spoke to reporters, demanded anonymity because he was not authorized to comment publicly on the closed talks.
President Barack Obama could suffer at home if talks fail, even if Israel holds back from attack, because a derailed diplomatic track would give Mitt Romney, his Republican rival for office, additional leeway to criticize him for being too soft on Iran.
Diplomats from several nations meeting with Iran in Moscow depict the talks as significant and say they could be the last in a series. If negotiators fail to make headway in persuading Tehran to stop higher-grade uranium enrichment, it’s unclear if or when new talks would occur.
——————————(AP)