An apparent breakthrough in eforts to resurrect the nuclear deal is the latest peak in a 15-month roller coaster, and it may be the last. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, who on Monday announced a new round of hastily convened talks in Vienna, says the space for additional signifcant compromises has been exhausted. Several key areas of disagreement remain, although they are understood to be narrow. But the decision-making endgame takes place in a particularly challenging geopolitical context. Tehran’s ties with Russia have visibly strengthened lately, while US-China relations are in the deep freeze over Taiwan, and in Washington, the Iran nuclear deal is a politically polarizing issue as midterm elections loom. All complicate the outcome.
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