A DEAL REACHED WITH IRAN

The coalition of six world powers and Iran have reached an agreement on a framework for negotiating the details of a final deal on Iran's nuclear program.

The European Union's Federica Mogherini and Iran's Foreign Minister Javad Zarif told a press conference:  "We have reached solutions on key parameters on a joint comprehensive plan of action."

Mogherini read a statement on behalf of all the negotiators that spelled out the framework agreement that includes the following, as summarized by The World Post:

   1.  Europe will end all nuclear-related economic and financial sanctions on Iran.
   2.  The U. S. will end its sanctions when the International Atomic Energy Agency verifies that Iran has lived up to its part of the bargain.
   3.  Iran will retain only one enrichment facility, and the Fordo fortified site will be converted into a scientific center.

President Obama praised the agreement, saying:   "I'm convinced that if this framework leads to a final comprehensive deal, it will make our country, our allies and our world safer."

Now the hard work begins:  convincing the hard-liners among the Iranian clerical rulers and in the U. S. Congress (Netanyahu included) that this is in the best interests of their own respective countries.   That is a tall order.

If this does in fact lead to a peaceful resolution of Iran's threat as a potential nuclear power, it's going to be a really really hard test of the patriotism of the conservatives in Congress to put the welfare of the United States people ahead of their hatred of President Obama.

Stay tuned.

Ralph