The Washington Post, 24 June 2015
Each day brings frightful news about the dynamic in the P5+1 negotiations with Iran. Today we learn of “secret annexes” to the deal and also hear from Iran’s supreme leader, whose confidence in capitulation by the West grows as we approach the June 30 deadline for a final deal.
The United States and other nations negotiating a nuclear deal with Iran are ready to offer high-tech reactors and other state-of-the-art equipment to Tehran if it agrees to crimp programs that can make atomic arms, according to a confidential document . . . . The draft document — one of several technical appendices meant to accompany the main text of any deal — has dozens of bracketed text where disagreements remain. Technical cooperation is the least controversial issue at the talks, and the number of brackets suggest the sides have a ways to go not only on that topic but also more contentious disputes with little more than a week until the June 30 deadline for a deal. . . . The West has always held out the prospect of providing Iran peaceful nuclear technology in the nearly decade-long international diplomatic effort designed to reduce Tehran’s potential ability to make nuclear weapons. But the scope of the help now being offered in the draft may displease U.S. congressional critics who already argue that Washington has offered too many concessions at the negotiations.
“Displease” is one way of putting it. “Outrage” or “make it impossible for Democrats to swallow” may be another. It is not enough to allow Iran to keep its nuclear infrastructure, reach a point where according to the president breakout time is down to zero and continue working on its intercontinental ballistic missile program. Now, the P5+1 negotiators are going to help Iran improve its program.
A source tells me, “This revelation is just more evidence that the emerging deal will not prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon but rather will facilitate it. Iran will gain a bonanza as it will receive billions in sanctions relief to fill its terrorist coffers while gaining expertise in perfecting its centrifuges in reactors to reduce break out time.”
Then there is the speech from Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the supreme leader, who proclaims, according to news reports: “All financial and economic sanctions imposed by the U.N. Security Council, the U.S. Congress or the U.S. government should be lifted immediately when we sign a nuclear agreement.” Khamenei also ruled out freezing Iran’s research for a significant time and allowing inspectors at military sites.
These developments confirm that the Obama administration is frantically trying to throw concessions at the Iranians’ feet, but as anyone familiar with basic negotiation strategy could have predicted, this only increases Iran’s intransigence. “Khamenei’s speech and the secret annexes combine to show an Iranian leadership determined to move forward toward a nuclear weapon and a deal that will not stop them,” says former deputy national security adviser Elliott Abrams. “This looks increasingly like a ten year program that ends with Iranian nukes, reached with American approval. Congress should prevent any such deal.”
In essence, the president is making it impossible for reasonable minds to rationalize the deal. That does not mean that Democrats won’t suspend reason, circle the president and uphold a veto of a congressional vote of disapproval. It does, however, mean the American people will be able to see this for what it is: unadulterated appeasement.
It will also make it that much easier for the next president, if he or she is a Republican, to pull the plug and refashion a foreign policy that is currently allowing helping Iran to become a nuclear power while it moves to dominate the region and promote terror. 
 

Jennifer Rubin writes the Right Turn blog for The Post, offering reported opinion from a conservative perspective.