Josh Rogin, Bloomberg: Top French Official Contradicts Kerry on Iran Deal
Secretary of State John Kerry has been painting an apocalyptic picture of what would happen if Congress killed the Iran nuclear deal. Among other things, he has warned that “our friends in this effort will desert us." But the top national security official from one of those nations involved in the negotiations, France, has a totally different view: He told two senior U.S. lawmakers that he thinks a Congressional no vote might actually be helpful.
His analysis is already having an effect on how members of Congress, especially House Democrats, are thinking about the deal.
The French official, Jacques Audibert, is now the senior diplomatic adviser to President Francois Hollande. Before that, as the director general for political affairs in the Foreign Ministry from 2009 to 2014, he led the French diplomatic team in the discussions with Iran and the P5+1 group. Earlier this month, he met with Democrat Loretta Sanchez and Republican Mike Turner, both top members of the House Armed Services Committee, to discuss the Iran deal. The U.S. ambassador to France, Jane Hartley, was also in the room.
WNU Editor: I still do not see this Iranian nuclear deal being voted down by the U.S. Congress with a "veto-proof majority" .... the Democrats would not allow it for the simple reason that they are not going to tarnish President Obama's "legacy". But this French official is giving an alternative view that deserves more attention .... that rejection of it is not the gloom and doom that the U.S. administration is trying its best to paint .... that patience and time may work in favour of a better deal in the future. Unfortunately .... even if this agreement is successfully voted down by the U.S. Congress .... I do not share this French diplomat's analysis. The international community has already voted in favour of this agreement, and even if the U.S. decides to say no .... these countries are going to rush into Iran to do and make the deals that sanctions have prohibited for years .... the only difference is that U.S. firms and financial institutions will not be permitted to take part. But from the Iranian point of view .... who cares.
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