Iran nuclear issue: No easy path to a final, comprehensive agreement

The nuclear talks with Iran were eight years in the making, and now carrying out the first steps in implementing the terms of the deal, reached last November in Geneva, requires no less sincerity and mutual trust than the lengthy yet hopeful negotiation itself.

Following the implementation of the Geneva agreement, negotiations on a comprehensive peaceful solution to the Iranian nuclear issue seemed bright. Now it seems that in the next six months to a year, the United States and Iran will struggle to reach a final and comprehensive agreement on the Iranian nuclear issue, and it is proving difficult to achieve any substantial progress in US-Iran relations.

Although there has been some positive interaction between the U.S. and Iran recently as a result of Rohani's "New Deal", there has been no fundamental change to the status quo of mutual deep-rooted hostility and mistrust.

Additionally, both sides are facing strong internal opposition. The anti-Iran faction in the U.S. congress is working to pass a bill implementing a new round of sanctions, and trying to prevent Obama from negotiating with Iran.

Another factor in the equation is that US allies Israel and Saudi Arabia are concerned that improved US-Iran ties might harm their interests. As a result they are determined to make every effort to prevent any rapprochement between the U.S. and Iran.

Finally, Iran will not give up its core rights, including the right to continue its uranium enrichment program, and it will be difficult to extract any substantial Iranian concessions based on the Geneva agreement. On the other side, it will be impossible for Obama to completely lift U.S. sanctions against Iran.