by Stephen Lendman

Indications are sticking points remain, including Washington upping the bar multiple times to include new issues - violating the letter and spirit of Lausanne preliminary agreement terms, the way US negotiators and top officials do business.

At the same time, Iranian officials remain optimistic. Iran's nuclear chief believes a deal can be consummated.

Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) head Ali Akbar Salehi said there's "a high chance for agreement" despite Washington making unreasonable demands.

Tehran's parliamentary Second Vice Speaker Mohammad Reza Bahonar thinks it can be in a few days - provided "the US-led powers (Britain, France and Germany) give up their excessive demands."

"We are still insisting on our (legitimate) stances, but if the other side means to block the talks through its excessive demands, then that would be a different story…We want a deal that stands the test of time."

Former Iranian Defense Minister General Ahmad Vahidi believes Washington's only sensible choice is coming to terms with Tehran at a time when it's most possible. He explains America must "respect Iran's firm and clear stances" on issues reflecting its legitimate rights.

On Friday night, Israel's Channel 2 reported all sides reached agreement - not confirmed by Iran or other sources in Vienna.

The channel's highly respected Middle East affairs commentator Ehud Yaari said "(i)t is done (and will be signed) early next week."

John Kerry is in Vienna. So is Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif. Other P5+1 foreign ministers were there days earlier.

They left. They're on their way back or may have arrived. They've come before and departed without success. Is this time different?

Yaari said Washington "made a series of capitulations over the past two to three weeks in almost every key aspect that was being debated."

Other reports indicate the opposite, including by Iranian officials involved in talks - saying new issues were raised on top of unresolved current ones leaving talks deadlocked.

Yaari cite unnamed US sources saying the deal "is worse than they thought" - including "managed," not "snap" inspections.

Years of talks never should occurred in the first place. The whole world knows Iran's nuclear program is peaceful. US and Israeli intelligence reports say so.

Obsessing over its entirely legitimate program as well as proliferating the Big Lie about it being the region's most destabilizing force and leading sponsor of terrorism is part of the decades-long demonizing campaign against a sovereign independent government Washington wants replaced by one it controls along with eliminating an Israeli rival, looting its resources and exploiting its people.

The longstanding scheme is well-known, including war plans in place to be implemented if ordered. Media scoundrels report nothing about either policy.

Instead, irresponsible Iran bashing substitutes. The latest New York Times report is typical - headlined "Iran Opens Campaign to Lay Blame on US if Nuclear Talks Fail."

Washington will bear full responsibility for failure. Britain, France and Germany will share it as junior partners in wanting Iran kept isolated.

Not according to Times propaganda - blaming the victim, not the imperial perpetrator the way its editors, correspondents and contributors virtually always frame things.

They criticized leader Ayatollah Khamenei saying numerous times America can't be trusted.

It never could from inception, systematically betraying its native people - for sure not now given influential lunatics infesting Washington, belligerents waging endless wars. Don't expect The Times to explain.

-###-

Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.

His new book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks World War III".

http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html

Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com.

Listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network.

It airs three times weekly: live on Sundays at 1PM Central time plus two prerecorded archived programs