VIENNA (AP) – The U.S. and Iran are inching toward a nuclear deal that’s not as good as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wants – but not as bad as he says it is shaping up to be.
Israel says any pact short of totally dismantling Iranian programs with weapons-making potential is deeply flawed. Netanyahu’s planned speech to the U.S. Congress March 3 – just a few weeks before the target date for a general agreement – gives him a high-profile soapbox to make his case.
Washington’s approach is to degrade Iran’s programs in order to extend the time Iran would need to make a nuclear weapon from the present few months to at least a year. U.S. officials say that would give the international community enough reaction time to do what it takes to stop Tehran.
Ahead of the next round of negotiations this week, a look at any potential agreement and how effective it may be.
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