Clinton: Odds of Iran nuke deal ‘not good’

Hillary Clinton on Wednesday night said that she is “personally skeptical” of a final nuclear agreement with Iran.

In a speech to the American Jewish Congress in New York, Clinton said the odds that negotiators can reach a deal are slim.

“The odds of reaching that comprehensive agreement are not good,” Clinton said, according to The Washington Post. “I am also personally skeptical that the Iranians would follow through and deliver. I have seen their behavior over years. But this is a development that is worth testing.” 

President Obama has predicted the probability of a final deal is 50-50. 

Clinton praised the Obama administration and her successor, Secretary of State John Kerry, however, on the diplomatic progress they’ve made so far with Iran.

The United States should “give space for diplomacy to work,” she added, by holding back on additional, tougher economic sanctions. 

{mosads}She then told the pro-Israel audience that if negotiations fail, the U.S. should explore all options. 

“Let’s be clear,” Clinton said, “every other option does remain on the table.”

Clinton credited her own work as secretary of State with bringing Iran to the negotiating table. 

“Faced with this difficult inheritance, President Obama and I were determined to use both engagement and pressure to present Iran’s leaders with a clear choice: comply and reap the benefits of improved relations or refuse and face increased isolation and ever more painful consequences.”

Clinton’s comments came the same day a second round of nuclear negotiations wrapped up in Vienna, Austria, between the P5+1 and Iran.

Diplomats who attended the meeting expressed optimism about the progress they’ve made so far. European Union High Representative Catherine Ashton and Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif said they had “substantive and useful discussions,” which touched on enrichment, a heavy-water reactor and sanctions. 

Negotiators will continue the next set of talks next month in Vienna.