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Secret Talks in Oman Preceded Iran Nuclear Deal in Geneva, U.S. Officials Say Obama, Countering Critics, Defends Iran Nuclear Deal
(35 minutes later)
WASHINGTON — Secretary of State John Kerry passed a secret message to Iran during a visit to Oman last May in an effort to improve relations and encourage talks on Iran’s nuclear program, according to American officials. SAN FRANCISCO — President Obama said on Monday that “cleareyed, principled diplomacy” had produced the agreement with Iran to stall its nuclear development, pushing back on rising criticism in Congress and from allies like Israel that the pact reached in Geneva was a capitulation.
Mr. Kerry conveyed the message to the sultan of Oman, Qaboos bin Said, who has long served as a conduit for American communications with the government in Tehran. Speaking at a rally in San Francisco, Mr. Obama emphasized what he described as a major achievement in the long-estranged relations with Iran. He spoke as American officials confirmed that Secretary of State John Kerry, who helped finalize the deal on Sunday, had engaged in secret communications with Iran months ago in an effort to improve relations and encourage talks.
It was not the first time that Mr. Kerry has used this channel. “For the fist time in a decade, we’ve halted the progress on Iran’s nuclear program,” Mr. Obama told a crowd of about 600 people. “Key parts of the program will be rolled back. International inspectors will have unprecedented access to Iran’s nuclear stores.”
The original intent of the rally here was to promote Mr. Obama’s immigration reform proposals. But since negotiations with Republicans on domestic policy issues like immigration and the budget have continued to stall, Mr. Obama instead began his remarks with a defense of his Iran negotiations.
“Tough talk and bluster may be the easy thing to do politically,” Mr. Obama said. “But it’s not the right thing to do for our security.”
Together with the end of the war in Iraq, the death of Osama bin Laden and the impending departure of American troops from Afghanistan, Mr. Obama said, he has fulfilled the promise from his first campaign to bring about a “new era of American leadership, one that turned the page on a decade of war.”
He continued, “What we can build together, that’s what brings me here today,” before transitioning in to his call for the House of Representatives to pass the immigration measures already approved by the Senate.
According to American officials, Secretary Kerry passed a secret message to Iran during a visit to Oman last May in an effort to engage with the Iranians on the nuclear issue. Mr. Kerry conveyed the message to the sultan of Oman, Qaboos bin Said, who has long served as a conduit for American communications with the government in Tehran.
It was not the first time that Mr. Kerry had used this channel.
With the support of the Obama administration, Mr. Kerry made an unannounced trip to Oman when he was chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to see if the sultan would facilitate a dialogue between the United States and Iran.With the support of the Obama administration, Mr. Kerry made an unannounced trip to Oman when he was chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to see if the sultan would facilitate a dialogue between the United States and Iran.
That trip occurred on Dec. 8, 2011. Mr. Kerry missed an important vote in the Senate and never explained his absence.That trip occurred on Dec. 8, 2011. Mr. Kerry missed an important vote in the Senate and never explained his absence.
Mr. Kerry was just one point of contact for a series of secret talks that the White House and State Department had with Iran before the nuclear agreement announced on Sunday.Mr. Kerry was just one point of contact for a series of secret talks that the White House and State Department had with Iran before the nuclear agreement announced on Sunday.
William J. Burns, the deputy secretary of state, and Jake Sullivan, an aide on the National Security Council, also held back-channel communications in Geneva in an effort to move the nuclear talks along.William J. Burns, the deputy secretary of state, and Jake Sullivan, an aide on the National Security Council, also held back-channel communications in Geneva in an effort to move the nuclear talks along.
Despite the secret communications, the nuclear accord that was announced was at risk until the final hours.Despite the secret communications, the nuclear accord that was announced was at risk until the final hours.
At one point on Saturday Mr. Kerry became concerned that the Iranian foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, might be under pressure from the authorities in Tehran not to make additional concessions.At one point on Saturday Mr. Kerry became concerned that the Iranian foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, might be under pressure from the authorities in Tehran not to make additional concessions.
Some of the final issues were worked out in a three-way meeting early Sunday between Mr. Kerry, Mr. Zarif and Catherine Ashton, the foreign policy chief for the European Union.Some of the final issues were worked out in a three-way meeting early Sunday between Mr. Kerry, Mr. Zarif and Catherine Ashton, the foreign policy chief for the European Union.
“The last meeting,” a State Department official said, “was pretty much make or break.”“The last meeting,” a State Department official said, “was pretty much make or break.”
The State Department official declined to specify the final stumbling blocks. But toward the end of the negotiating session, American officials pressed successfully for a commitment from Iran not to test fuel or install components for a heavy water reactor that would produce plutonium. The reactor has been under construction near the town of Arak.The State Department official declined to specify the final stumbling blocks. But toward the end of the negotiating session, American officials pressed successfully for a commitment from Iran not to test fuel or install components for a heavy water reactor that would produce plutonium. The reactor has been under construction near the town of Arak.
The State Department official said that Ms. Ashton was informed of the Obama administration’s back-channel communications with the Iranians.The State Department official said that Ms. Ashton was informed of the Obama administration’s back-channel communications with the Iranians.
Russia and China had been willing to accept a less strict nuclear agreement than the United States concerning language on uranium enrichment and on limits on the Arak facility, according to a Western official, who asked not to be identified because the official was discussing private diplomatic conversations.Russia and China had been willing to accept a less strict nuclear agreement than the United States concerning language on uranium enrichment and on limits on the Arak facility, according to a Western official, who asked not to be identified because the official was discussing private diplomatic conversations.
The new accord, which freezes much of Iran’s nuclear program for six months, is intended to buy time so that international negotiators can pursue a more comprehensive accord.The new accord, which freezes much of Iran’s nuclear program for six months, is intended to buy time so that international negotiators can pursue a more comprehensive accord.
The interim accord has come under criticism from some American lawmakers who assert that it did not do enough to roll back the Iranian nuclear program while Iran will receive sanctions relief valued at more than $6 billion.The interim accord has come under criticism from some American lawmakers who assert that it did not do enough to roll back the Iranian nuclear program while Iran will receive sanctions relief valued at more than $6 billion.
The Obama administration is planning a major effort to persuade lawmakers to support the interim accord. Mr. Kerry planned to call lawmakers on Monday following his return to Washington and intended to visit lawmakers after the Congressional Thanksgiving break.The Obama administration is planning a major effort to persuade lawmakers to support the interim accord. Mr. Kerry planned to call lawmakers on Monday following his return to Washington and intended to visit lawmakers after the Congressional Thanksgiving break.
Mr. Kerry spoke with his counterparts from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates on Monday in an effort to ease their concerns over the accord.Mr. Kerry spoke with his counterparts from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates on Monday in an effort to ease their concerns over the accord.

Sarah Wheaton reported from San Francisco, and Michael R. Gordon from Washington.