Weeks, the congress actively moving forward with its proposed sanctions bill could have an unpredictable effect on leadership opinion public opinion, in tehran. Just to set the scene then ill ask simon gas who is leading our delegation in the direct talks with the iranians to say something, but just to set the scene, there has been some movement over the last few weeks. We have seen some movement. There is reason for cautious optimism, signals coming out of tehran there is a desire to try to find a deal. But there is still difficult issues in which there is no movement at all. And you have to make heroic assumptions to get to the point where it is all agreed in the next two or three weeks. But i think compared to where we were when we left vienna in november, i think actually we have made quite significant progress over the last few weeks. But still very challenging. Well, firstly on the intervention, i think it cuts in both directions. You may have seen a spirited reply to the letter
Hypnotic state where the people with guns are basically running the country are going bankrupt. I think there is calls for some moderate optimism. But i wouldnt put it any higher than that. I dont think to be an expert on libya. But those who are tell me that the principle protagonists. If people are really fighting over territory and money and oil. It is easier to find solutions which divide the riches. And this is a rich country. So i would be moderately optimistic, but no more than that. Cautiously optimistic but there could be a chance of the government of national unity. I do think that the presence of isil in the country, the inevitability that there will be continued intervention that is able to deal with the problem itself. I do think those are helpful points of oppression on the sides of the civil war to think very hard about whether its in their collective best interests to try and resolve their differences and work together. Foreign secretary, can we turn to iran and the Nuc
You may have seen a spirited reply to the letter which is worth looking at. One of the issues which is a arisen of course in congress over the last couple of weeks, including with the visit with netanyahu is that it probably has made it rather more in congress than it was previously. That also changes the dynamic as far as the United States is concerned. The foreign secretary said, we have made some progress in the negotiations, i think there is a willingness on both sides to try to reach a deal, but the obstacles are still formidable. These are about Big Decisions which are going to have to be reached primarily by iranian colleagues, about the future of their nuclear industry, and the amount they have invested in it. Those are difficult decisions. And as the foreign secretary said, there are still a number of them which are critical to success on which we do not have movement. So as just said we go into the negotiations in the next round of negotiations with the degree of optimism, bu
That its showing not consistent with your previous secretary. But on the day her majesty is here for the commonwealth surface at westminister abbey, we should surely make it a position. Would you make that change before the general election . Would you consider doing that . No. Weve made a decision about flag flying this year. I know the number of people are disappointed with the commonwealth flag wasnt flying. But if we were to fly the commonwealth flag on Commonwealth Day i can promise you we will be inundated with requests to fly other flags and other emblems in support of articles as in other organizations. Are there any grounds for optimism about the u. N. Media towards the parties in libya . Yeah, i think there are some grounds. And when i meant the special representative, i have to be candid having listened to him. We have at least got people talking. We have people with a focus on a catalytic event. The growing presence of isil in libya, which is i think, no cussing the minds o
Calling chiefs of station around the world and being down into the daytoday involvement . That did not happen to my knowledge. The interaction between the National Security staff in the Central Intelligence agency was almost exclusively, not largely but most exclusively between mr. Mcdonough and mr. Brennan and me. And so i guess what im wondering is it that because of your level because we have all these he all these enough to show a variety of people under them that were involved in these talking points and other things and i guess where im going is the light that shines on the daytoday operations, what does that tell us about not only how this administration works but the bigger institutional dangers let me back up for just a second. The cia 33 years . Yes sir. Would you say the cia is more independent today than it was when you entered or less . From micromanagement i dont mean republican or democrat i mean the influences of bosses in the white house. Very hard for me to say becaus