Don’t interfere in Iran talks, Kerry urges Congress

WASHINGTON, USA – Secretary of State John Kerry on Sunday, April 12, urged US lawmakers to allow talks with Iran on curbing its nuclear program to be completed without interference, amid threats of new sanctions.

Kerry is planning to brief lawmakers on Monday and Tuesday about the parameters of the deal reached after 8 days of tough bargaining in Switzerland earlier this month.

“I’ll lay out the facts,” Kerry told CBS’s “Face the Nation” when asked about a different narrative emerging from Iranian leaders about what was agreed as they reach for a final comprehensive accord due by June 30.

“Everything I have laid out is a fact. And I’ll stand by them. In the end it’s really the final agreement that will determine it.”

The State Department angered Iran when it released a fact sheet on April 2 as the outlines of the deal were being announced in Lausanne, which appeared to differ from the Iranians’ understanding.

“We had this same duelling narratives, discrepancies, spin, whatever you want to call it with respect to the interim agreement” reached in November 2013 under which Iran froze parts of its nuclear program in exchange for limited sanctions relief, Kerry said.

But he insisted Iran had stuck to the terms of the 2013 interim deal. “Iran has proven that it will join into an agreement and then live by the agreement,” he said.

“So that’s important, as we come into the final two and a half months of negotiation.”

As Congress returns from recess on Monday, it is expected that some lawmakers will push forward with legislation calling for congressional approval of any deal, and possibly threatening to impose more sanctions on Iran.

“I think people need to hold their fire and let us negotiate without interference and be able to complete the job over the course of the two-and-a-half months,” Kerry said. – Rappler.com