Obama Told Negotiators to Ignore Deadline, Iran Talks Continue

After another round of all-night talks in Lausanne, Switzerland, negotiators again said this morning that they were nearing a consensus on a preliminary agreement on Iran’s nuclear program, though they noted the agreement has yet to be drafted. The progress made in the marathon talks have justified another day’s discussion, said P5+1 officials. “Accuracy is more important than speed. I am of the opinion that a success is still possible,” said German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

The talks were scheduled to conclude on March 31 with a political framework, but the United States abandoned that notional deadline when it became clear that Iran was using it to its advantage. “They were turning our own deadline against us to see if we would give ground,” a senior U.S. official told the New York Times. President Obama told U.S. officials “to ignore the deadline, make it clear that the president was ready to walk away and leave all sanctions on Iran in place, and see if that would change the dynamic.” There were signs yesterday that Iran may be shifting its position to allow the phased lifting of sanctions under a deal, though differences persisted over the conditions under which they would be reimplemented if an agreement is violated. “We have made significant progress in the talks but still we have not agreed on the reviewed solutions,” Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif told reporters. Meetings will resume this morning.

Houthis Capture Aden, AQAP Stages Jailbreak

Despite airstrikes by the Saudi-led coalition, the Houthis have continued their southern campaign and last night reached the center of Aden. Residents have reported that there are tanks in the streets operated by troops loyal to ousted President Ali Abdullah Saleh, who has supported the Houthis’ offensive. Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula is taking advantage of the conflict. This morning they launched an attack on al-Mukalla, the port capital of Hadhramaut Province, storming government buildings and the central security prison. Hundreds of inmates escaped and the facility has been looted. Several Gulf nations are reportedly discussing with Russia a draft U.N. resolution that would include sanctions, an embargo on the import of weapons, and conditions for the resumption of political talks. Russia is seen as a potential obstacle to its passage because of its good relations with Iran.

Headlines

• The Islamic State has attacked other rebel groups in Damascus, challenging them for control of the Yarmouk Palestinian refugee camp; a new U.N. report says the Islamic State has amassed more than 25,000 foreign recruits.

• The International Criminal Court has accepted a Palestinian application to join the U.N. judicial body, but Palestinian officials say they will wait until a preliminary examination is concluded before pursuing cases against Israel.

• Police in Istanbul killed a woman carrying a bomb while her companion escaped; the incident comes a day after an attack by a Turkish leftist terror group left two gunmen and their hostage dead.

• With most of Tikrit now secured by pro-government forces, militias operating in the campaign against the Islamic State there have begun looting the city.

• Deaths of North African migrants trying to reach Europe by boats — many of which depart from Libya — have skyrocketed in recent months; 486 have drowned so far this year, 10 times more than this time last year.

-J. Dana Stuster

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