President Obama has signaled a compromise for a nuclear deal, suggesting that Iran can get significant relief from sanctions as soon as a comprehensive agreement is signed.

Obama said the immediate suspension would depend on a “snap-back” provision for the re-imposition of sanctions if Iran violated the terms of the deal.

“Our main concern here is making sure that if Iran doesn’t abide by its agreement that we don’t have to jump through a whole bunch of hoops in order to reinstate sanctions,” the President said at a news conference. “It will require some creative negotiations — I’m confident it will be successful.”

After Iran and the 5+1 Powers (US, Britain, China, Russia, France, and Germany) agreed a nuclear framework on April 2, the US put out the interpretation that UN and European Union sanctions would be lifted and American restrictions suspended upon the International Atomic Energy Agency’s verification of Iranian compliance with the comprehensive agreement — a process which could take months.

Iranian officials, including the Supreme Leader, responded that sanctions relief had to be complete and immediate upon the signature of the deal, although Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and President Rouhani continued to give room for manoeuvre with references to the verification of “implementation”.

Zarif told Euronews, in an interview broadcast on Friday night, that there were different interpretations of the framework. He continued, “The best way for all of us is to stop fighting over this, to negotiate and — once the final agreement is reached — to make the final agreement available to the public.”

A White House official later appeared to step back from the President’s suggestion of compromise, saying “will not accept a deal without phased sanctions [relief]“.

However, Obama, speaking after a meeting with Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, said the level and timing of sanctions relief are less important to the US than the “snap-back” measures.

The President said US negotiators will be seeking “formulas that get to our main concerns while allowing the other side to make a presentation to their body politic that is more acceptable”.

Iran and the 5+1 resume talks at the level of political deputies on Wednesday, with the European Union’s Helga Schmid meeting Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi. The two sides are seeking a comprehensive agreement by June 30.

By EA World View