Nuke Deal?

++Carol Morello, writing in the Imperial Post,says the Iranian deal is closer than one thinks. Her excellent article in buried down in the paper in small type.

++The US keeps saying it is 50-50 but European negotiators say that the odds are higher than that and and the United States is underplaying the progress being made.

++In Carol Morello's article Hossein Mousavian, visiting scholar at Princeton and former spokesman for the Iranian nuclear team, says that the negotiators have reached agreement on three of the stumbling blocks and two others are remaining but solvable. The most difficult point will be the degree of inspection and the length of this period.

++Morello's piece outlines the more negative consequences of not making a deal. Despite the likelihood of additional American sanctions,it is unlikely that the United States can maintain the cohesion in the international community on this issue.

++The Iranian negotiator yesterday said that Israel will not be able to stop the agreement,suggesting that it is a done deal. 

++There is little likelihood for an extension of the talks if they don't come up with an agreement. Mousavian said that the progress made is unprecedented and historical and he doesn't see how the P5 +1 can walk away now.

++The State Department tried to pre-empt Bibi's criticism by defending the agreement without revealing any of its content. The key argument was that Bibi never proposed an alternative, which seems to me very lame. If there is an agreement, I hope the Obama Administration will defend it better than they have so far.

++The framework for the deal must be reached by March 25 and the final agreement in June. 

++Bibi talks to AIPAC tomorrow and the week will be a circus.