Kerry, Zarif Resume Talks, Push for a Deal

Talks update - Negotiators are aiming to reach a framework agreement on Iran’s nuclear program by March 29, though March 31 is more likely, diplomats tell Bloomberg.

--U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry resumed talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif Thursday morning. Foreign ministers from the other world powers are expected to join them in Lausanne if the talks make progress. http://bloom.bg/1GZmDIN

Tweet - @Cirincione: .@KelseyDav: "Iran has had nuclear capability since 2007. You cannot bomb that away. You cannot sanction that away." http://bit.ly/1GZNft2

Incentives - “So Iran wants this deal. It’s a way out of a very tricky and dangerous situation,” writes James Conca in Forbes. “[Countries] that give up their nuclear programs completely tend to end badly. Just ask Iraq, Libya and the Ukraine. To avoid this fate, Iran has to back away from nuclear weapons while retaining a nuclear power program. Together with the P5+1 negotiators, the United States can, and should, make this happen.” http://onforb.es/1BO9Owj

Historic shift - “The nuclear negotiation between Iran and the United States represents a historic shift—one that is actually more significant for Iranians than it is for Americans,” writes Sadegh Zibakalam in POLITICO.

--“If there is a deal over the next week, as the two sides approach their end-of-March deadline, it will severely undermine the ideology that has been in place since the beginning of the Iranian Islamic Republic in 1979, and which regime hardliners have used to great effect to consolidate their power: anti-Americanism as a legitimizing force.” http://politi.co/1xikGH8

Distrust and verify - The administration is gearing up to explain the benefits of a good nuclear deal to the public, Congress, and Middle Eastern allies.

--The White House campaign will include classified briefings and deployment of senior validators, who will emphasize the the deal’s intrusive monitoring measures and the lack of effective alternatives to diplomacy. Yahoo News reports. http://yhoo.it/1IyUeuc

Tweet - @yasminradjy: Following @JohnBoltonNH's appalling NYT article calling to bomb #Iran, consider what would be destroyed @Cirincione http://bit.ly/190sNwY

Regional implications - “A U.S.-Iran deal would be an earthquake that touches every corner of the Middle East,” writes Thomas Friedman in the New York Times. “Before you make up your mind on the Iran deal, ask how it affects Israel, the country most threatened by Iran. But also ask how it fits into a wider U.S. strategy aimed at quelling tensions in the Middle East with the least U.S. involvement necessary and the lowest oil prices possible.” http://nyti.ms/1Nj4Eiy

Tweet - @AmbKennedy_ret: Happy Birthday to the Biological Weapons Convention, negotiated in Geneva 40 years ago today. @BWCISU & #BWC40

Quick hits:

--“Iranian nuclear talks 'not in the endgame' despite nearing deadline,” Julian Borger for The Guardian. http://bit.ly/1NcQ3qI

--“Iran Nuclear Talks Explained: The Players, The Issues and The Latest,” NBC News. http://nbcnews.to/1FWFmpJ

--“Energy Secretary Reiterates Priority of Reopening Nuke Dump,” Susan Montoya Bryan for AP. http://abcn.ws/1IyXFRz

--“Schlumberger pleads guilty to violating U.S. sanctions on Iran, Sudan” by Julia Edwards for Reuters. http://reut.rs/1D1N1UO

--“A New Approach for U.S. Missile Defense,” by Philip Coyle for Breaking Defense. http://bit.ly/1Bt5ROq

Events:

--“Deal or no deal? Negotiating with Iran.” Featuring Robert Einhorn, Senior Fellow, Arms Control and Non-Proliferation Initiative of Brookings, William Galston, Senior Fellow, Governance Studies of Brookings and Suzanne Maloney, Senior Fellow, Center for Middle East Policy of Brookings. April 1 from 10:00AM – 11:30 AM. Located at The Brookings Institution, Falk Auditorium, 1775 Massachusetts Ave, NW, Washington, DC 2003. http://brook.gs/1x8WE1a

--“Paths to Disarmament: The NPT and the Humanitarian Initiative.” Featuring John Loretz, International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War, and Martin Fleck, Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR). April 2 from 8:00-9:00 PM EST. Online webinar sponsored by PSR. RSVP online. http://bit.ly/1Oek3Ur

--Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, hearing on the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) budget. With Frank Klotz, Administrator, NNSA; and four other witnesses. April 15 at 2:30 PM. Located at 222 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington Dc. Webcast on the committee website. http://1.usa.gov/1FLDB07