IRAN, WORLD POWERS SEEK NUCLEAR
DEAL.
Nuclear
talks between Iran and world powers move to the next level on Tuesday as
negotiators begin work on an ambitious lasting accord to silence for good fears
about Tehran’s atomic ambitions.
Success
might help put Iran and Washington on the road to normalizing relations 35
years bear fruit in other areas, not least in Syria. Failure could lead to
conflict.
Expectation
were not high, however ahead of the scheduled three-day Vienna meeting between
Iran and the United States, China, Russia, Britain, France and Germany,
expected to be the first in a series of tricky encounters.
It
is probably as likely that we won’t get an agreement as it is that we will in
Vienna for the talks.
But
these negotiations are the best chance we have ever had for diplomacy to solve
this most pressing of national security challenges.
Iran
has long been suspected of seeking nuclear weapons, despite its denials, while
the United States and Israel-widely assumed to have a formidable nuclear
arsenal itself – have never ruled out military action.
Under
this accord which took effect on January 20, Iran scaled back certain nuclear
activities in exchange for minor relief from painful sanctions and a promise of
no new sanctions.
For
the first time the west accepted Iran enriching uranium, a process producing
nuclear fuel but potentially also material for a bomb having previously
demanded a total suspension.
But
the freeze only lasts until July 20 although it can be extended and experts say
that success in Geneva came at the price of postponing discussion on the really
difficult issues.
Under
the comprehensive solution that the parties aim to sew up by November the six
powers want Iran to scale back permanently or at least for a very long time its
nuclear programme.
This
might include closing the Fordo facility, slashing the number of centrifuges
enriching uranium, cutting the stockpile of fissile material and altering a new
reactor being built at Arak.
This
plus much tighter UN inspections would not remove entirely Iran’s capability to
get the bomb but would make it substantially more difficult. According to US
president, it would be impossible.
In
exchanging all UN security council US and EU sanctions on Iran – which are
costing it billion of dollars every week in lost oil revenues, wreaking havoc
on the economy – would be lifted.
The
US president has to contend with members of Congress threatening more sanctions
and demanding with Israel – that nothing short of a total dismantlement of Iran’s
nuclear facilities will do.
Iranian
President meanwhile shoes election in 2013 has helped thaw relations with the
West, is already on thin ice with hardliners seeking to turn Khamenei against
him.
