Cracks Emerging in Arguments in Favor of Iran Nuclear Deal

Reports emerged on Thursday that US intelligence officials are divided in their assessment of whether or not they could detect Iranian efforts to cheat on the deal designed to prevent the Islamic Republic from building nuclear weapons. Additionally, US Secretary of State John Kerry appeared to cast doubt on the efficacy of the inspections regime in the JCPOA during remarks to reporters on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Brigadier General Mohammad Ali Asoudi, a senior officer with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) told local media on Wednesday that he doesn’t take the threat of military force from the West very seriously. “We should thank Obama for refreshing us by referring to his ‘options on the table’, including the military one; we just relax and laugh at such ridiculous words,” Asoudi said. Elsewhere, Switzerland announced on Thursday that it is officially lifting sanctions on trade in precious metals and oil with Iran. Read More