Iran nuclear deal begins -- but details are kept secret
Dr. Emanuele Ottolenghi on why 'secret diplomacy' surrounds negotiations
Even as Iran halts its most sensitive uranium enrichment work, details of the agreement between six world powers and Tehran remain undisclosed, according to a leading Middle East expert.
In an interview with Fox News National Security Analyst KT McFarland, Dr. Emanuele Ottolenghi, a senior fellow with the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, shared his concerns about the interim deal with Iran.
“In this day and age nothing stays secret very long,” said Ottolenghi. “We are in a situation where the U.S. administration and its European allies are holding back on letting the public know what’s in the agreement … and that’s very problematic.”
Critics have warned the timeline for negotiations have not prepared diplomats to monitor Iran’s activities.
“A lot of them [U.S. and European diplomats] haven’t seen the text yet so how are you going to be able to guarantee full implementation?” said Ottolenghi.
Ottolenghi, also the author of “Iran: The Looming Crisis,” explained how the interim deal has given Tehran the upper hand.
“There is no doubt the Iranian regime came to the negotiating table very eager to strike a deal … they were under pressure from the sanctions,” said Ottolenghi. “The problem with the agreement is that the West has willingly, voluntarily reduced its own leverage by conceding a significant amount of sanctions relief very early on.”
Ottolenghi remains skeptical negotiations will advance any further.
“It remains to be seen whether an agreement can be reached in the final analysis,” said Ottolenghi. “The interim deal that we begin to implement today have made it less, not more likely for success.”
Watch the full interview above.
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