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"The Arms Control Association’s work is an important resource to legislators and policymakers when contemplating a new policy direction or decision."

– General John Shalikashvili
former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Arms Control NOW

IAEA Verification of the Iran Nuclear Deal: 10 Hot Issues

On July 14, after nearly two years of tough negotiations, a comprehensive, long-term deal was agreed to between Iran and the United States, Russia, Germany, China, France and the United Kingdom, aimed at preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. Under the terms of the agreement, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is tasked with carrying out an unprecedented level of monitoring and verification. The 159-page document is detailed and complex but its impact on reducing Iran’s nuclear capacity and blocking its ability to...

The P5+1 and Iran Nuclear Deal Alert, July 21

Start the Clocks With an historic comprehensive nuclear deal in hand, the focus now shifts from Vienna to the domestic stage, where debates over the deal are taking place in Tehran and the capitals of the P5+1 (China, France, Germany, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States). In the United States the clock started on the sixty-day congressional review period after the Obama administration sent the deal and supporting certifications to Congress on Sunday. Congress now has until Sept. 17 to decide if it will vote on a resolution to approve or disapprove the agreement. President Barack...

The P5+1 and Iran Nuclear Talks Alert, July 7

There and Back Again–Ministers and Vienna After a slow weekend, talks picked up on Sunday night with the return of the ministers, but despite this uptick in momentum, will continue beyond the July 7 target date. Today, EU foreign policy chief and P5+1 coordinator Federica Mohgerini announced in Vienna that the parties are "continuing to negotiate for the next couple of days." State Department Spokeswomen Marie Harf said, "We’re frankly more concerned about the quality of the deal than we are about the clock, though we also know that difficult decisions won’t get any easier with time.” The...

The P5+1 and Iran Nuclear Talks Alert, July 3

Ministers and Momentum International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director-General Yukiya Amano returned from Tehran on Friday after meeting with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and the Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council of Iran Ali Shamkhani. The Iranian press and The Los Angeles Times reported Shamkhani as saying that Iran is ready to continue cooperation with the IAEA to “resolve the remaining issues.” Upon return to Vienna, Amano said on July 3 that he discussed monitoring and verification under a comprehensive deal and the agency's investigation into the possible military...

The P5+1 and Iran Nuclear Talks Alert, July 1

Mr. Amano Goes to Tehran Negotiators decided to extend talks through July 7, with each side agreeing to continue implementation of the November 2013 interim Joint Plan of Action for the next seven days. The decision came after Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif returned to Vienna. He brought with him the head of the Atomic Energy Agency of Iran, Ali Akbar Salehi, who has been sidelined from many of the negotiations since Lausanne due to health concerns. Negotiators on both sides have said that Salehi’s presence will be an asset to the talks, given his technical expertise and...

The P5+1 and Iran Nuclear Talks Alert, June 29

Talks Extended, But Differences Resolvable Just days before the June 30 deadline for completing their talks, foreign ministers from the P5+1 (China, France, Germany, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States) and Iran descended on Vienna. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry kicked off the weekend arrivals on Friday night. He was followed by Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Saturday morning and French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius later that day. Upon arrival, Fabius said that there are three areas where difference still exist: sanctions relief, inspections, and...

The P5+1 and Iran Nuclear Talks Alert, June 26

Vienna Prepares for Ministers and the Media Talks are ramping up in Vienna, with preparations for the arrival of foreign ministers from Iran and the P5+1 (China, France, Germany, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States). To accommodate the expected flood of journalists, a media tent was constructed outside the Coburg Palace. In the negotiating rooms yesterday, Iran’s deputy foreign ministers and negotiators met with EU political director Helga Schmid. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry will travel to Vienna today, June 26, along with U.S. Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz. Iran’s...

The P5+1 and Iran Nuclear Talks Alert, June 23

A Critical Mass of Diplomatic Energy? Key players are meeting and gathering ahead for what may be a final, intense and continuous round of talks aimed at finalizing a comprehensive agreement. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif flew to Luxemburg for talks with the German, French, and British diplomats and EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini on Monday. After meeting with Zarif, UK Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said that negotiations will go “up to the wire” but the parties aim to get a “durable” comprehensive nuclear agreement by June 30. Zarif returned to Tehran after the...

The P5+1 and Iran Nuclear Talks Alert, June 19

Vienna For the Long Haul Iran’s deputy foreign ministers and nuclear negotiators Abbas Araqchi and Madjid Takht Ravanchi returned to Vienna to continue talks on a comprehensive deal on Wednesday, and are likely to remain through the June 30 deadline. Political directors from the P5+1 (China, France, Germany, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States) traveled to Vienna this week to continue negotiations on the final deal. Araqchi said the sides are making slow, but steady progress on the text. On Thursday, the Iranian team met with EU political director Helga Schmid and U.S...

The P5+1 and Iran Nuclear Talks Alert, June 16

Vienna and Back Again Political directors for Iran and the P5+1 (China, France, Germany, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States) met in Vienna on Friday to continue negotiations on the comprehensive nuclear deal. Iranian deputy foreign ministers and negotiators Abbas Araqchi and Madjid Takht Ravanchi flew back to Tehran after the meeting. They will likely return to Vienna on Wednesday. The following day, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said in a national address that if the P5+1 is “committed to the current frameworks, respects Iran’s rights and national interest and stops asking...

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