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‘Agreement’ between Iran and P5+1 on nuclear crisis possible on Friday, Foreign Minister Javad Zarif tells Amanpour
By Mick Krever, CNN
(CNN) - An "understanding or agreement" on Iran's nuclear program may be possible as soon as Friday, Foreign Minister Javad Zarif told CNN's Christiane Amanpour on Thursday.
"We know what the ingredients should be. We have discussed them in the last three, four weeks. And I think our colleagues are ready to start drafting," Zarif, Iran's chief nuclear negotiator, said. "I believe it is possible to reach an understanding or an agreement before we close these negotiations tomorrow evening."
Direct negotiations resumed on Thursday between Iran and the so-called P5+1 - Germany plus the permanent five members of the U.N. Security Council: The United States, the United Kingdom, France, Russia and China.
Iran is seeking relief from the Western sanctions that have inflicted serious damage on its economy; the West wants to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.
"There won't be a suspension of our enrichment program in its entirety," Zarif said. "But we can deal with various issues - various issues are on the table."
‘Inherently implausible’ that UK intelligence is breaking law, says MP and former defense secretary Rifkind
By Mick Krever, CNN
Brits have little reason to worry that their intelligence agencies are breaking the law, Malcolm Rifkind, chairman of UK Parliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee, told CNN’s Christiane Amanpour on Thursday.
“When criminals break the law they are hoping to have financial gain, make a lot of money. That’s what crime is all about,” Rikfind said, who is also a former UK defense secretary and foreign secretary.
“We’re talking about intelligence agencies. The heads of these agencies are very senior public servants. What personal benefit do they get from breaking the law? They would be committing a crime; they would end up being prosecuted if it was found out.”
“I can’t prove it never happens, but I find it inherently implausible in any rational basis.”
Pope Francis lives with mind in heaven and feet on earth, says Rabbi friend
By Mick Krever, CNN
One of Pope Francis’ dearest friends is none other than a Jewish Rabbi.
And Rabbi Abahram Skorka, who has known Pope Francis for 15 years, since he was Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio, has a concise description of what makes Francis’ papacy different from his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, born Joseph Ratzinger.
Pope Francis “lives with his mind in heaven and with his feet on Earth,” Rabbi Skorka told CNN’s Christiane Amanpour on Wednesday. “And Ratzinger lived totally in heaven.”
Abraham Skorka, a prominent Argentine rabbi, has had frank and open conversations with Pope Francis since he was Cardinal Bergoglio of Buenos Aires. Those discussions are the topic of a book written by both, “On Heaven and Earth.”
More Iran sanctions would bolster suspicion that U.S. goal is regime change, U.S. intelligence veteran says
By Mick Krever, CNN
Increasing sanctions on Iran at a time of landmark direct negotiations would increase Iranian suspicion that the U.S. is seeking regime change, a former CIA officer and nearly 30-year veteran of the U.S. intelligence community said on Wednesday.
“It simply adds to the perception, which is already pretty prevalent in Tehran – it’s a suspicion that none other than the Supreme Leader holds – that we in the United States aren’t really interested in an agreement, we’re interested in regime change,” Paul Pillar told CNN’s Christiane Amanpour.
Robert Menendez, a Democratic Senator, told Amanpour on Wednesday that he was calling on Iran to suspend enrichment as a “good-faith” effort in negotiations.
“What I do not understand is a negotiating posture in which we suspend our actions, we give them sanctions relief on existing sanctions, yet they continue to be able to enrich, to be able to have more sophisticated centrifuges,” Menendez said.
Pillar dismissed that idea as a logical fallacy.
As Iran and U.S. negotiate, Senator Menendez blasts unilateral sanctions relief
By Mick Krever, CNN
As long as Iran continues to enrich uranium the United States should not suspend its Iran sanctions, Democratic Senator Robert Menendez told CNN’s Christiane Amanpour on Wednesday.
Landmark direct negotiations between the two countries are set to continue on Thursday in Geneva.
“What I do not understand is a negotiating posture in which we suspend our actions, we give them sanctions relief on existing sanctions, yet they continue to be able to enrich, to be able to have more sophisticated centrifuges,” Menendez said.
Details of negotiation have been kept under tight wraps.
But in broad strokes, Iran – under the leadership of newly elected President Hassan Rouhani – is seeking massive sanctions relief; the United States and its negotiating partners want to prevent Iran from having a nuclear weapon.
“The only reason we’re in these negotiations is because of the sanctions that I and others have offered,” Menendez said, adding that he was trying to avoid military conflict.
A new space race, with new players
By Lucky Gold, CNN
Imagine a world where a new race for outer space – with new players – has achieved lift-off.
Over fifty years ago, U.S. President John F. Kennedy announced America’s intention to beat the Soviet Union to the moon.
Today, a spacecraft was rocketed into orbit, the first stage in an ambitious mission to mars. But it wasn't launched by the United States or Russia.
The un-manned spacecraft was launched by India – for the relatively bargain-basement cost of $73 million.
It is scheduled to reach the red planet sometime next year, where it will conduct scientific experiments.
Interactive: Mars exploration from Viking to MAVEN
While some say India should spend its treasure feeding its children – among the most malnourished on earth – India is also a global economic power, in open competition for research and resources.
Former Iraqi PM Allawi on engulfing violence
CNN's Christiane Amanpour speaks with Former Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad Allawi about the violence engulfing his country.
For Congo, ‘hopeful moment’ of M23 rebel disarmament tempered by decades of conflict, U.S. envoy Feingold says
By Mick Krever, CNN
The U.S. special envoy to the Democratic Republic of Congo, Russ Feingold, said that while the decision by M23 rebels in that country to lay down their arms against the government is a “hopeful moment,” it is far from the end of the road.
“It would be a great over-simplification to call this important step the end” of Congo’s hardship, Feingold told CNN’s Christiane Amanpour.
“Some five to six million people have died in this conflict over the last 20 years,” he said from Johannesburg. “There are dozens of armed groups involved; there are complex issues involved in the countries in the region. We need a broader political dialogue to resolve that.”
The M23 has been fighting the Congolese government for nearly two years. On its website, the group announced that it would "pursue, by purely political means, a search for solutions to the profound issues that led to its creation."
“What has happened here is not simply the M23 rebellion saying that they’re going to have a ceasefire, or cease for a while,” Feingold said. “They have formally renounced their rebellion.”
Life after the Elysee
CNN's Christiane Amanpour speaks with the former first lady of France, Cecilia Attias.
Egypt not on a ‘proper path to democracy,’ suggests Egypt deputy PM, who blames Morsy
By Mick Krever, CNN
On the day former Egyptian President Mohamed Morsy emerged from four months of military captivity to face trial, Deputy Prime Minister Ziad Bahaa el-Din implied to CNN’s Christiane Amanpour that Egypt is not on a “proper path to democracy,” while blaming that state of affairs on Morsy.
Bahaa el-Din said that it was under Morsy’s presidency that “freedoms began to be taken” and “the constitution was no longer upheld.”
“Having said this,” he said, “we need to keep our eyes fixed on not continuing in that road, and as quickly as possible, as strongly as possible, going back to a proper path of democracy.”
The deputy prime minister represents a voice of moderation in the interim government at a time when Egypt has become hyperpolarized, violent, and politically bewildering.
He admitted to Amanpour that compromise had become a “dirty word” in Egypt.
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