LAUSANNE, Switzerland—Efforts by the Obama administration to stem criticism of its diplomacy with Iran have included threats to nations involved in the talks, including U.S. allies, according to Western sources familiar with White House efforts to quell fears it will permit Iran to retain aspects of its nuclear weapons program.
A series of conversations between top American and French officials, including between President Obama and French President Francois Hollande, have seen Americans engage in behavior described as bullying by sources who spoke to the Washington Free Beacon.
The disagreement over France’s cautious position in regard to Iran threatens to erode U.S. relations with Paris, sources said.
Tension between Washington and Paris comes amid frustration by other U.S. allies, such as Saudi Arabia and Israel. The White House responded to this criticism by engaging in public campaigns analysts worry will endanger American interests.
Western policy analysts who spoke to the Free Beacon, including some with close ties to the French political establishment, were dismayed over what they saw as the White House’s willingness to sacrifice its relationship with Paris as talks with Iran reach their final stages.
A recent phone call between Obama and Hollande was reported as tense as the leaders disagreed over the White House’s accommodation of Iranian red lines.
Amid these tensions, U.S. Ambassador to France Jane Hartley met with her French counterpart, Gerard Araud, Monday to discuss a range of issues.
Benjamin Haddad, who has advised senior French political figures on foreign policy issues, said leaders in Paris have not been shy about highlighting disagreements they have with the White House.
“Fance, like other European countries, has negotiated for more than 10 years and endured most of the sanctions’ burden,” said Haddad, a research fellow at the Hudson Institute.
“The French want a deal, but they see no rush and repeat that Iranians need a deal more than we do, and that we shouldn’t fix artificial deadlines that put more pressure on us than Iran.”
One source in Europe close to the ongoing diplomacy said the United States has begun to adopt a “harsh” stance toward its allies in Paris.
“There have been very harsh expressions of displeasure by the Americans toward French officials for raising substantive concerns about key elements of what the White House and State Department negotiators are willing to concede to Iran,” said the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity. “That is because the clarifications expose just how weak the Americans’ deal is shaping up to be.”
“The meeting between the French ambassador in Washington and the president’s envoy to Paris—not a diplomat but a big fundraiser for his campaigns—comes amid these very harsh words that were spoken privately about the ambassador’s recent comments on the seeming American desperation for a deal, and the tough words that President Obama had for President Hollande in their phone call.”
Strategic differences remain between the United States and its allies over how a final deal should look, the source said. The French remain opposed to a recent range of concessions made by the Obama administration.
“We may agree that denying Iran a nuclear weapon ability is the goal, but apparently the view of what one can leave Iran and assure that is very different,” the source said.
“Clearly these are the differences that must be discussed. I don’t see France suddenly deciding that America is right and French objections to weakness are wrong, nor that silence is preferable to transparency.”
Haddad said the French are hesitant to rush into an agreement.
“The French want a robust deal with clear guarantees on issues like [research and development] and inspections to ensure that Iranians won’t be able to reduce breakout time during the duration of the agreement (also an issue of discussion), or just after thanks to research conducted during the period,” he said. “That is also why they disagreed on lifting sanctions.”
He also said the French “don’t trust Iran and believe an ambiguous deal would lead to regional proliferation.”
Another Western source familiar with the talks said the White House is sacrificing longstanding alliances to cement a contentious deal with Iran before Obama’s term in office ends.
“The President could be hammering out the best deal in the history of diplomacy, and it still wouldn’t be worth sacrificing our alliances with France, Israel, and Saudi Arabia—key partners in Europe, the eastern Mediterranean, and the Gulf,” the source said. “But he’s blowing up our alliances to secure a deal that paves Iran’s way to a bomb.”
A State Department spokesperson declined to comment on the issue.
Meanwhile, talks between the United States and Iran reached a critical juncture Thursday, as Secretary of State John Kerry met with his Iranian counterpoint to hash out differences over key points concerning Iran’s nuclear program.
The sides are hoping to reach a framework agreement by March 31 amid reports that Iran is demanding Saudi Arabia immediately halt airstrikes in Yemen, where Iran-aligned forces are working to bring down the Western-backed government.
The issue could complicate the talks as the United States attempts to balance its regional alliance with Iran in Iraq against competing interests with traditional allies in Saudi Arabia.
U.S. negotiators have reportedly softened their stance in recent days on a range of issues relating to Iran’s continued production of nuclear materials. One of Iran’s nuclear sites in Fordow could continue to operate, according to the Associated Press.
@ yamit82:
My comment is awaiting moderation.
@ yamit82:
It’s scary because he elaborates on why everybody should give him credits for what he’s saying. It’s a rare occurrence because most say “Come to Israel” and stop at that. But he says that he knows.
I wouldn’t be the least surprised if a Civil War broke out in the US after a financial collapse. First scapegoat: the Jews, of course. I’ve been following very closely what is happening there: never did they have such a divisive Prez, and it’s not a matter of “liking him” or not. This guy – with the help of his DOJ and the media – is sowing as much seeds of discord he can. It’s atrocious. I regularly talk to Conservatives there over the Net, and in the last few years I’ve seen people seriously talk about secession. The Fed Govt has gone wild and peeps are at the end of their tether there.
This guy has come to destroy the US. And if he can (attempt to) destroy us at the same time, he will.
I’ve posted the link somewhere else. It needs to be spread far and wide.
Anyway, with or without his warning, one must have to be completely blind not to see the writing on the wall.
Avigail Said:
I wonder if this admor is locked in. A few of them are i believe… He wouldn’t say such things if he didn’t believe it to be so. These guys are not into Zionism as we know.
Pikuach Nefesh is driving him. Scary stuff.
We provide free medical and free trips to explore all the ruins and castles in Israel. Even a trip to Petra. Little pollen and ragweed here too.
@ yamit82:
Dicha of Deborah : “Be careful what you wish for, your wishes may be answered”
honeybee Said:
mi casa es su casa
yamit82 Said:
There’s a poker game I’d love to observe.
yamit82 Said:
And where in Israel would I go and be accepted.
@ yamit82:
Thank you very much for the link, yamit.
@B.Dog: I agree, Obama has much support here, as you say. He’s still being a child and the definitely the Left is clueless. Like Dr. Savage says, ‘liberalism is a mental disorder.’
There is much wisdom in what the Riminov Rabbi says.
Senate Majority Leader Visits Israel As Iran Nuke Talks Enter ‘Endgame’
Rabbi Warns of Civil War in the United States
@ Bear Klein:
Jules Verne wrote the latest version of an old thread. In the 1870’s.
Phileas Fogg a well to do Briton and his Valet Passepostout? enter a wager at an exclusive club in England. He waged 20000 BP’s on that he could go around the globe in 80 days or less. About 1.5 million dollars today. The saga of their trip was always very pleasant for me to read. Mr. Fix is a Scotland Yard detective who mistakes Fogg for a wanted criminal. This while the travelers reached the Far East. Fix befriends the valet and proceeds to try to delay, trap Fogg. He always had “plans”. The attempts were quite stupid but dangerous. Eventually and when they reach England Fox fails and Fogg wins the bet and a new bride.
Israel has the material instruments. The leadership courage and military depth is a different story.
@ SHmuel HaLevi 2: Never read the book and only saw the movie in what the late 50s or early 60s? Do not remember the character.
Yes if Israel is capable of destroying the critical components of the Iranian nuclear complex it should do so I concur.
As I am not driving the bus and do NOT have info on what this would entail I just hope we have an EMP capability .
@ Bear Klein:
The question to Mr. Fix is originally part of a book called “Around the world in 80 days”. 🙂
Netanyahu MUST not be allowed to deliver speeches and cease fires while again financing the enemy.
He must be given an ultimatum. Either attend to the nuclear horror he failed to prevent or remove him from any sort of office. This is not an electoral vote ripping off scheme. We allowed criminals to send us all into a nuclear trap. Israel must defang Iran. Now.
ebyjeeby Said:
He still has very substantial support in the U.S. Almost half continue to support him. They are clueless. Maybe he’s spotted 10 percent to begin with from the black community. That leaves another 30% or so that are basically liberal, or whatever (still enamored of a black president?) Can’t convince them that anything is wrong. They just get emotional and angry. The liberals/left are hopeless.
Obama is just being the child he is. According to the Dems, he’s raised our standing in the world since Bush hurt it so much. Ehh, not so much…
The US Pr. is at war with the West and denies/ignores the Judeo-Christians Western world.
He is clearly promoting an Iranian hegemony without limits.
Weakening the West and empowering Iran was/is an essential goal of his at ANY prize.
@ SHmuel HaLevi 2:
A Mr. Fix It (Mar Tikun Ha Olam?).
If Israel has viable military means it can use? Supposedly?
No talking or sanctions will stop the Iranians. An EMP could.
Do we have a non-nuclear one I have no clue. Nuclear one I would guess so. We will also fry other people equipment if we do this.
That is your hypothetical solution!
@ Bear Klein:
Maybe you can explain to us how will OUR leadership stop Iran’s plans in the next 18 months. We know that Hussein Obama will advance those plans. Iran can easily have nuclear weapons well before 18 months.
Do we have a plan Mr. Fix?
Or we just prattle and wait for the bright US electorate to elect our hero in waiting?
The only way to stop Iran is to counter its plans with action, which, I dread, will more likely come from Saudi Arabia than from feckless charlatans here.
“Vi vill kenouuu vat tu duhduuu” does not cut it.
How do we plan to prevent the nuclear attack?
The US treats the French the same way it treats Israel. And the French must now be looking at the Israelis with some sympathy.
The US is not a country that values its allies.
Dire, ultimate destructive consequences if we allow Netanyahu to betray again. If indeed he intends to prevent our people from being part and key part in the government he turns himself into being an equal to Livni, Hertzog and their mentor.