CBS: ‘Strange Coincidence’ Rezaian’s Trial Resumed on Nuke Deadline Day

ROSE: “A deal to eliminate Iran’s nuclear program may be reached this morning. Marathon talks in Vienna are focused on the final details, and an agreement could be announced within hours. Margaret Brennan is in Vienna following the talks and the challenges that remain. Margaret, good morning.”

BRENNAN: “Good morning. Well, this is the 17th straight day of negotiations and diplomats are really anxious to wrap them up.  Tonight at midnight the temporary freeze on Iran's existing nuclear program will expire, and that means the clock is ticking.”

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BRENNAN (voice-over): “There was a sense of heavy anticipation in the Vienna today as a deal with Iran finally seemed possible. All weekend, Secretary Kerry shuttled back and forth to meetings with the Iranians and even snuck in to pray at a historic 12th century church. Iranian-American activist Reza Marashi said a deal was very close.”

MARASHI: "I would put it at 99 percent. I always leave that one percent for the unforeseen complication, but I think if they're in the process of just drafting, and agreeing on words in two different languages, then this is essentially like the banks in 2008; it's too big to fail."

BRENNAN (voice-over): “Iran's top diplomat, Javad Zarif, reviewed the 100-page draft agreement, it now awaits approval or rejection from leaders in seven world capitals, including Washington and Tehran. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said Sunday [that] his team had done everything possible to win relief from the sanctions that have been choking his country's economy. But even if the diplomats are successful, there are some in the U.S. Congress who want to block it. Republican Senator Tom Cotton from Arkansas -- a staunch critic told ‘Face the Nation’ any deal is a mistake.”

COTTON: "So I think whatever deal comes out of this weekend, it's going to be dangerous for the United States and dangerous for the world."

BRENNAN (voice-over): “But the world is still waiting to see what this final deal looks like.”

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BRENNAN: “And In a strange coincidence the long delayed trial of American journalist Jason Rezaian suddenly restarted today in Tehran, the very same day that Iran has set as a deadline for nuclear deal.”