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Top Stories
AFP:
"Iran's six-month freeze of its nuclear programme agreed with world
powers in Geneva will start by early January, Tehran's envoy to the UN
atomic watchdog said Friday. 'We expect that either at the end of
December or the beginning of January we should start implementing the
measures agreed by both sides,' Reza Najafi, envoy to the International
Atomic Energy Agency, told reporters... 'We have had preliminary
discussions with the agency with regard to the nuclear-related measures
... to be verified by the agency,' Najafi said Friday. 'We are going to
continue those discussions.'" http://t.uani.com/1jRisC5
AP:
"The U.S. says Iran can undertake some construction work at a key
nuclear facility as long as fuel isn't produced and advances aren't made
on a planned heavy water reactor. The Arak site was among the thorniest
issues negotiators sought to resolve in last weekend's nuclear agreement
in Geneva... State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki says she isn't sure
what work Zarif meant. She says road or building work might be allowable.
But nuclear fuel production, reactor work, testing, control systems
advances and other activities aren't permissible." http://t.uani.com/181p3aY
Reuters:
"The Democratic chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations
Committee accused the White House on Wednesday of using 'over the top'
rhetoric and 'fear-mongering' tactics to try to halt new sanctions
against Iran after the United States brokered an interim deal with Tehran
over its nuclear program. Senator Robert Menendez criticized President
Barack Obama's administration for agreeing to the deal under which Iran
will accept restrictions on its nuclear program in exchange for limited
relief from economic sanctions that have damaged its economy and cut
deeply into its oil exports... 'What I don't appreciate is when I hear
remarks out of the White House spokesman that ... if we're pursuing
sanctions we're marching the country off to war. I think that's way over
the top, I think that's fear-mongering,' Menendez said on the National Public
Radio program 'All Things Considered.'" http://t.uani.com/18sgRDi
 Nuclear Agreement
LAT: "As
they prepare for battle over the new deal to limit Iran's nuclear
program, the accord's supporters and foes are calibrating strategies
based on their reading of Americans' conflicted views about the Islamic
Republic. American war-weariness forms a big part of the Obama
administration's campaign for the accord, a preliminary agreement to curb
Iran's disputed nuclear program. Administration officials have said that
without a diplomatic deal, the country would be on a 'march to war.' For
now, the administration appears to have the upper hand. Many skeptics of
the deal, who issued sharp criticism shortly after its announcement, have
since muted their words. Instead of attacking the agreement directly,
opponents have pinned their hopes on continued American suspicion of Iran
and its leaders. They expect the government in Tehran to fail to meet its
obligations under the agreement and are poised to go on the offensive if
that happens... Mark Wallace, chief executive of the advocacy group
United Against Nuclear Iran, acknowledged that the deal had support, but
predicted that the backing would fade 'when people begin to digest and
understand the agreement.'" http://t.uani.com/1ex3HTH
AP:
"Iran's foreign minister said Friday his country will not enter
nuclear talks with its arch-enemy Israel, the country's official news
agency reported. A report by IRNA quoted Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif as
saying that Islamic Republic 'would not attend a meeting in which the
occupying regime participates.' ... The report said Zarif's remarks were
in response to possible Israeli participation in talks between Iran and
six world powers over Tehran's nuclear program. It did not elaborate on
source of the reports on Israel's possible presence. 'Never such a thing
will happen and we definitely we will not be in the room in which
representatives from the Zionist regime will have presence,' Zarif
said... 'We do consider the Zionist regime as the biggest regional and
world danger,' he said." http://t.uani.com/1c182vn
AFP:
"The UN nuclear watchdog said Thursday it was not yet ready to
verify Iran's compliance with the recent deal with world powers, as
Tehran invited inspectors to the key Arak site. 'We need to study the
agreement (struck in Geneva on Sunday) and we have to identify the ways
in which the elements relevant to the IAEA be put into practice,'
International Atomic Energy Agency chief Yuyika Amano said. 'It will take
time because it is a quite complicated task and we would like to properly
prepare and do the job properly.... I cannot tell when we will be ready,'
he told reporters. He added that the Vienna-based body would need more
money to carry out the enlarged inspection role foreseen in Iran's
breakthrough deal with the United States, China, Britain, France and
Germany -- the P5+1. 'This requires a significant amount of money and
manpower.... The IAEA's budget is very, very tight. I don't think we can
cover everything from our own budget,' Amano said... Amano also said on
Thursday that Iran has invited the agency to visit the heavy water
production plant at Arak on December 8 for the first inspection there
since August 2011." http://t.uani.com/1hn4zP2
AFP:
"Critics of the deal to cap Iran's nuclear programme say it repeats
mistakes made with North Korea, but analysts say there is little to
suggest Tehran will follow Pyongyang's path of broken promises to a
nuclear bomb. Under the agreement sealed in Geneva on Sunday, Iran
undertook to brake its nuclear drive for the next six months in exchange
for limited sanctions relief. Republican dissenters in the US Congress
warned that Tehran was borrowing from Pyongyang's well-worn playbook,
buying time and financial largesse with false promises that ultimately
led to North Korea's first nuclear test in 2006. On the surface there are
similarities that go beyond Iran and North Korea's joint billing with
Iraq in former US president George W. Bush's 'axis of evil'. Albeit to
varying degrees, both are autocratic, diplomatically isolated,
sanctions-laden nations with a shared history of long-term enmity with
the United States and a desire for nuclear leverage. In North Korea's
case, a series of aid-for-denuclearisation agreements over the past 20
years have fallen apart, and Pyongyang is openly developing weapons on
all fronts following its third and largest nuclear test in February this
year... Critics of the Geneva deal point to the 1994 'Agreed Framework'
that Bill Clinton's US administration signed with North Korea. At that
time, the similarities with Iran were more striking. North Korea, like Iran
now, had yet to conduct a nuclear test and was still a member of the
non-proliferation treaty (NPT). The 1994 agreement eventually broke down
amid mutual accusations of non-compliance, but non-proliferation experts
say the Geneva accord -- even as an interim deal -- is stronger for its
tough inspection regime." http://t.uani.com/1exc169
AFP:
"Gulf Arab states called on Iran on Wednesday to fully cooperate
with the UN nuclear watchdog in implementing a landmark deal with major
powers. Foreign ministers of the six Gulf Cooperation Council member
states, which include leading supporters of the rebels in Syria, also
urged quick action to end the conflict and expressed hope that a peace
conference planned for January will help lead to a settlement. In a joint
statement issued after a one-day meeting in Kuwait City, the ministers
called on Iran to 'fully cooperate' with International Atomic Energy
Agency inspectors in implementing the agreement it reached with six major
powers on Sunday. 'We express our comfort at this deal, hoping that it
will be a prelude for a comprehensive solution to the Iranian nuclear
file,' the ministers said, referring to the interim nature of the deal
reached at the weekend." http://t.uani.com/1998HKi
Reuters:
"Iran's Arab neighbors, deeply worried about Iran's nuclear program,
want assurances that Tehran's deal with world powers will indeed enhance
regional security, Bahrain's interior minister said on Thursday... 'The
initial agreement between the Iranian republic and the big powers over
its nuclear file makes us expect from these states to clarify to the
leaders and people of the region that the agreement that has been reached
serves to achieve regional security stability,' the interior minister,
Sheikh Rashed bin Abdullah al-Khalifa, said. Addressing the start of a
regular meeting of Gulf Arab interior ministers in Bahrain, he said Gulf
Arab states wanted to be certain that the accord 'would not be at the
expense of the security of any member of the (Gulf Cooperation) Council'.
'It is not a secret that we in Bahrain have felt (threats that) affect
our security, with all foreign-related links to that.'" http://t.uani.com/IkJzd0
Sanctions
AP:
"The sanctions relief offered to Iran by the U.S. and five world
powers has begun to get the gears of commerce slowly turning again in an
economy that remains in shambles... Still, Iranians see the move as a
much needed step toward a more normal economy after years of crippling
inflation and job losses. 'Markets operate on a psychological basis,'
says Ray Takeyh, an Iran expert at the Council on Foreign Relations and
former U.S. State Department senior adviser. 'The psychology of Iranian
commerce has changed.' ... The deal began to restore some confidence in
the Iranian economy after an extraordinarily dark period. The public
reaction to the deal was largely positive, and the rial immediately
gained about 3 percent against the dollar, according to money exchangers
in Tehran." http://t.uani.com/IkMhiJ
Reuters:
"Asia's top buyers of Iranian crude cut purchases by about 15
percent so far this year but shipments may start rising after six world
powers agreed this past Sunday to ease some sanctions on Iran in return
for curbs on its nuclear programme... 'Buyers like India really couldn't
take much Iranian oil because of issues surrounding insurance,' said Tony
Nunan, oil risk manager at Mitsubishi Corp in Tokyo. 'The deal smoothens
out things a bit, and that will make it easier for buyers to import
Iranian oil. We may see some increases in exports,' he said. Imports by
Iran's largest customers - China, India, Japan and South Korea - dropped
to 924,560 bpd in the first 10 months of the year, down from 1.087
million bpd in the same period a year ago, according to official customs
reports and tanker data from trade sources. Shipments in October by the
four totalled 669,524 bpd, down 42.6 pct from 1.17 million bpd a year
ago." http://t.uani.com/IkIfHb
Reuters:
"A pledge by world powers to ease ship insurance sanctions on some
Iranian oil exports is likely to take months to come into effect due to
complex law and regulation and to insurers' unease over providing cover.
A deal struck last weekend between Iran and six world powers over
Tehran's nuclear programme leaves U.S. and European oil sanctions in
place for six months. Iran secured limited relief including an easing of
a ban on European ship insurance, which could allow the transport of some
oil to its Asian customers. European Union sanctions last year cut out
Iran's oil trade from Europe's so-called Protection and Indemnity
(P&I) clubs, which cover most of the global tanker market. 'Although
this agreement suggests an improvement in relations, a formal change in
EU, UK and U.S. laws will be needed to release insurers from existing
prohibitions,' a spokesman for ship insurer UK P&I Club said. 'Until
such changes are made, the effect of sanctions on Club cover remains
unchanged,' he added." http://t.uani.com/1jR5owz
WSJ:
"Turkish hotels and travel agents reported a sharp jump in bookings
from Iranian tourists this week while traders in Istanbul's famed bazaar
said more Iranian businessmen have been buying Turkish goods in bulk to
sell back home. The pickup in activity immediately after Iran won relief
from international sanctions in a nuclear agreement over the weekend
signaled that Turkey's slowing economy may be among the first to reap
economic benefits from the deal. Companies and merchants anticipate the
once-burgeoning trade between the neighboring countries will thrive
again... Iran's exports to Turkey, largely dominated by oil and gas,
surged 20-fold over the past decade to $12 billion in 2012. But they have
fallen 33% so far this year. Turkey's reliance on Iranian oil has dropped
from more than half its needs to 15% this year because of sanctions. Turkish
exports to Iran have also suffered, falling 66% so far this year... For
Turkish companies with operations inside Iran, the interim deal is
already bringing benefits. Turkish fertilizer producer Gubre Fabrikalari
AS, or Gubretas, which has a 49% stake in the Razi Petrochemical Company,
Iran's largest fertilizer production facility, saw its stock rise as much
as 7.3% after the deal was announced." http://t.uani.com/1b3NHI3
Reuters:
"All Turkish banks will be able to make Iranian transactions as
sanctions on Iran are eased in the wake of a deal between Tehran and six
world powers to curb Tehran's nuclear programme, Turkey's economy
minister said on Thursday... 'Because of the pressure exerted by the
United States, private banks were unable to process (Iranian)
transactions. Now that obstacle has been removed, not only Halkbank but
other banks will be able to process payments,' Economy Minister Zafer
Caglayan told reporters in Istanbul. His comments are the first
confirmation from Turkey about how it sees the deal affecting its
banks." http://t.uani.com/1il3iJX
Reuters:
"Gold trade between Turkey and Iran will resume, albeit at lower
levels than last year, once sanctions on Iran are eased, Iran's
ambassador to Turkey said on Friday. Turkey's gold trade with Iran boomed
in 2012 when Ankara was paying for its natural gas and oil imports with
Turkish lira and Iranians were using those deposits held in Turkey's
Halkbank to buy gold. 'Certainly the gold trade between Iran and Turkey
will resume,' the ambassador, Ali Reza Bigdeli, told reporters in the
Turkish capital on Friday. 'Due to the problems in money transfers in
2012, the gold trade rose. I don't think that we are still in the same
situation that would require us to trade in gold in those amounts,' he
said." http://t.uani.com/1b0WxHG
Reuters:
"India is sending a team to Iran to speed up work on a port that
will provide access to resource-rich Central Asia and Afghanistan,
officials said, moving quickly to take advantage of a thaw in Iran's
relations with the West. The port of Chabahar in southeast Iran is
central to India's efforts to circumvent Pakistan and open up a route to
landlocked Afghanistan where it has developed close security ties and
economic interests. The port, which India is partly financing, will also
be another gateway to Iran itself for Indian commerce. Work has been slow
on expanding berthing facilities and container terminals, partly because
India has been reluctant to press ahead too enthusiastically for fear of
upsetting the United States, keen to isolate Iran over its nuclear
ambitions." http://t.uani.com/1c132qy
Reuters:
After years of difficulty caused by economic sanctions, suppliers are
hoping a nuclear deal will make it easier to win lucrative contracts to
sell wheat, sugar and other food to Iran. Iran was never barred from
buying food, but EU and U.S. financial measures have made trade more
difficult for the past two years by hindering payments and shipping...
Private Iranian importers have returned to the international market in recent
days for the first time in two years, seeking between 300,000 to 500,000
tonnes of wheat for flour making, trade sources said. The sources said
they expect Iran to buy grain heavily to build up food stocks in the
six-month period. Top global agribusiness groups such as Cargill and
Archer Daniels Midland Co and others like Swiss commodities trader
Glencore-Xstrata have been among the dominant players in Iran's food
trade. Those three firms confirmed they sell agricultural products to
Iran, and said the activity was in compliance with sanctions. The global
food giants are now expected to be joined by mid-size trading houses in
the European Union, Black Sea region and Turkey, trade sources said. The
sources declined to identify the companies involved as deals were still
in the works... 'Any perceived erosion of the sanctions regime - even if
minor - will almost certainly make Iran's task of importing commodities
easier,' said Torbjorn Soltvedt of risk consultancy Maplecroft." http://t.uani.com/180ISBh
AFP:
"Iran and the United States are to establish a joint chamber of
commerce within a month, with direct flights also planned, an Iranian
official said Wednesday in a newspaper report. 'Iran-US chamber of
commerce will be launched in less than one month,' Abolfazl Hejazi, a
member of Iran's Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture,
told the English-language Iran Daily... According to Hejazi, the project
which he said had already been registered in the United States would
allow the two countries to work towards restoring ties. Hejazi also said
the government has authorised the private sector to launch joint
activities and that Iran was ready to establish direct flights to the
United States. Flights would connect Kish Island in southwest Iran with New
York, he said." http://t.uani.com/1dG0ips
WSJ:
"The European Union's highest court Thursday ruled an Iranian energy
company shouldn't be subject to sanctions but upheld restrictions against
another, just a day after the EU subjected Tehran's largest cargo-shipping
company to new sanctions. Thursday's decision is the latest in a series
of court setbacks to the EU's Iran sanctions regime, even though the vast
bulk will remain in place despite Sunday's confidence building deal
between Iran and six major powers. EU officials have this week made clear
they will continue to strictly implement the sanctions that weren't eased
as part of last weekend's deal... The Luxembourg court confirmed Iranian
private company Fulmen Group and its largest shareholder and chairman,
Fereydoun Mahmoudian, shouldn't be on the list of companies subject to
restrictions because their alleged support of nuclear proliferation
couldn't be proven. But it ruled the EU was right to place restrictions
on state-controlled company Manufacturing Support & Procurement Kala
Naft Co. because it trades natural-gas and oil equipment, which are
subject to EU sanctions... The EU also tends to 'relist' Iranian
entities, subjecting them to restrictions on new grounds when the EU wins
court challenges. In the most recent example Wednesday, the EU relisted
state-owned Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines due to allegations by
the United Nations Security Council that it had shipped arms-related
materials. The 28-nation bloc hopes that by relisting companies and
providing additional evidence, it can secure its Iran sanctions regime
for the foreseeable future." http://t.uani.com/1cQU0hI
Reuters:
"Lukoil, Russia's No.2 oil producer, is ready to resume cooperation
with Iran when international sanctions are lifted, Chief Executive Vagit
Alekperov was quoted as saying on Friday... 'After sanctions are lifted -
definitely. We are interested in all regions where hydrocarbon reserves
lie,' Alekperov told Interfax news agency in the city of Perm, answering
a question about the possible lifting of sanctions on Iran." http://t.uani.com/1buFak9
Bloomberg:
"Aban Offshore Ltd., Asia's third-most-indebted oil rig provider,
will be able to obtain cheaper U.S. and European financing following the
easing of some sanctions on Iran, the Indian company's biggest market...
The relaxation of some restrictions on Iran by the U.S. and five other
world powers will let companies with operations in the Islamic Republic
get loans and insure their assets. Aban, which earns about 40 percent of
its revenue from rigs leased to Iranian drillers, can now also renew
contracts and improve operating margins that fell to a six-year low in
the 12 months ended March 2013." http://t.uani.com/1il9EJ3
Human Rights
IHR:
"Four prisoners were hanged in the southern Iranian city of Bandar
Abbas today, reported the official Iranian news agency... According to
the report three of the prisoners were hanged in public while one of
those convicted of drug trafficking was hanged in the central prison of
Bandar Abbas." http://t.uani.com/1buP0mc
IHR:
"According to reports from reliable sources in Iran, one of the
classes belonging to Bahai' Institute of Higher Education (BIHE) in Karaj
(west of Tehran) was stormed by the Iranian security agents earlier today
Wednesday 27. November. According to this report the students present in
the class were forced to fill out the forms about their personal
information, names of the family members and relatives and also identity
of the BIHE instructors and faculty members. The guards they made
students to sign a disclaimer on not participating in any activities
related to Bahai' Institute of Higher Education. The students' cell
phones were also confiscated. Meanwhile, on this very day, the
presidential office has published the Bill on Rights of citizenship.
Passing more than 100 days of Rouhani's presidency, Bahai's are facing
much more pressure than before." http://t.uani.com/180Ovj4
Domestic
Politics
Reuters:
"A multi-billion dollar organisation controlled by Iran's supreme leader
shook up the management of its charity division, appointing as its new
chief a man involved in the confiscation of thousands of properties from
Iranian citizens. Aref Norozi was named director general of the Barakat
Foundation, Iran's state news agency reported on Wednesday. The
foundation is a unit of a massive business empire controlled by Ayatollah
Ali Khamenei that is known as Setad Ejraiye Farmane Hazrate Emam...
Reuters this month published a three-part series entitled Assets of the
Ayatollah detailing how Setad has become one of the most powerful
institutions in Iran through the systematic seizure and sale of thousands
of properties belonging to ordinary Iranians." http://t.uani.com/1b3KBUo
AFP:
"A music video has surfaced on YouTube hailing Iranian President
Hassan Rouhani in a similar way to a famed 2008 paean to his US
counterpart Barack Obama. In the video, which has been retweeted on the
Iranian president's unofficial Twitter account, Rouhani is shown along
with traditional musical instruments, banned on state media since the
Islamic revolution of 1979. A voice-over commentary attached to the video
highlighted the significance of the retweet. 'The fact that the
president's personal Internet site decided to pick up this video shows
that it is a major step forward in breaking taboos and supporting
artists,' the commentary said. The video features excerpts of a speech
Rouhani delivered on taking office in August, 100 days ago on
Wednesday... The four-and-a-half minute music video mirrors the famed
'Yes We Can' video produced by the Black Eyed Peas' will.i.am in support
of Obama during his triumphant 2008 election campaign." http://t.uani.com/1b0ZNCX
AFP:
"A 5.7 magnitude earthquake on the Gulf coast near Iran's sole
nuclear power plant killed eight people and injured 190 on Thursday,
emergency response chief Hassan Qadami told state media. 'So far, there
are seven dead and 30 injured receiving hospital treatment,' the official
IRNA news agency quoted Qadami as saying. However, an official said the
temblor had 'not created any problem for the activities of the power
plant' at Bushehr, where Iran has its Russian-built reactor. The quake's
epicentre was near Borazjan, around 60 kilometres (35 miles) from
Bushehr." http://t.uani.com/1cDgBOS
LAT:
"The Iranian capital has long been known for its smog, but pollution
in recent days has taken an eye-watering turn for the worse, hampering
visibility and causing authorities to shutter schools and curtail the number
of cars allowed in the city center. Children and the elderly have been
told to stay indoors if possible, and the smog has forced even healthy
residents to cut back on strolls and jogs. On Wednesday, only cars with
license plates ending in even numbers were permitted on downtown streets.
Tehran's air quality control office issued an advisory that anyone with
health problems, particularly respiratory ones, should stay home, but
acknowledged that most people could not afford to skip a day of work.
Yousef Rashidi, the organization's head, described the level of
particulates and other pollutants as dangerous." http://t.uani.com/199aaAx
Foreign Affairs
Reuters:
"United Arab Emirates Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed on
a rare visit to Iran on Thursday called for a partnership with Iran, but
suspicion remains despite Tehran's tentative overtures towards its Gulf
neighbors. Mostly Sunni Muslim Gulf Arab states are wary of Iranian
influence in the Middle East, fearing the Shi'ite-led country is seeking
regional dominance and stirring sectarian tensions." http://t.uani.com/1eGbj7j
Opinion
& Analysis
WashPost Editorial Board:
"The fact sheet distributed by the Obama administration about the
nuclear agreement with Iran is notable for its omissions. The 2,000-word
document, like President Obama's televised statement Saturday night about
the deal, stresses Iran's pledge to cap its enrichment of uranium, delay
the completion of a plutonium-producing reactor and accept additional
inspections - measures that will guard against an attempt to produce a
bomb while negotiations continue. What the White House didn't report is
that the text of the accord makes several major concessions to Tehran on
the terms of a planned second-stage agreement. Though White House officials
and Secretary of State John F. Kerry repeatedly said that Iran's
assertion of a 'right to enrich' uranium would not be recognized in an
interim deal, the text says the 'comprehensive solution' will 'involve a
mutually defined enrichment program with mutually agreed parameters.' In
other words, the United States and its partners have already agreed that
Iranian enrichment activity will continue indefinitely. In contrast, a
long-standing U.S. demand that an underground enrichment facility be
closed is not mentioned. Mr. Obama and other U.S. officials have spoken
about a six-month time frame for completing negotiations, but the
agreement says the six-month arrangement can be renewed 'by mutual
consent' and that 'the parties aim to conclude negotiating and commence
implementing [in] no more than one year.' It also states that 'there
would be additional steps in between the initial measures and the final
step,' including 'addressing the U.N. Security Council resolutions.'
Those resolutions order Iran to suspend uranium enrichment, but the
agreement does not say whether those demands will be enforced. The most
troubling part of the document provides for what amounts to a sunset
clause in the comprehensive agreement. It says the final deal will 'have
a specified long-term duration to be agreed upon,' and that once that
time period is complete, 'the Iranian nuclear program will be treated in
the same manner as that of any non-nuclear weapon state party' to the
Non-Proliferation Treaty. Iran thus could look forward to a time when
there would be no sanctions and no special restrictions on its nuclear
capacity; it could install an unlimited number of centrifuges and produce
plutonium without violating any international accord. Administration
officials say they regard Iran's agreement to the words 'long-term' in
the sunset clause as a significant concession. In theory, this might mean
15 to 20 years. Iran, however, has proposed a far shorter period; we are
told it was three to five years. Whatever the final compromise, it would
be dangerous to allow this Iranian regime to have an unrestricted nuclear
program at any time - and it surely would be unacceptable to Israel and
Iran's Arab neighbors. The United States should retain the ability to
block the expiration of controls with its veto in the U.N. Security
Council... The agreement leaves the United States and its partners at a
disadvantage in negotiating the comprehensive settlement. The concessions
made to Iran will have to be balanced by a major rollback of Iran's nuclear
infrastructure - with no automatic expiration date." http://t.uani.com/1j0Fjh1
Fredrik Dahl in
Reuters: "By dropping earlier demands that Iran shut
down an underground uranium enrichment plant and ship material out of the
country as part of a preliminary deal, nuclear negotiators have kicked
some of the toughest questions forward to talks for the next year. The
curbs to its nuclear program that Iran agreed to on Sunday are easier to
reverse than measures that were previously called for by the six global
powers seeking to prevent Tehran from developing an atomic bomb, experts
say. To opponents of the deal, like Israel, which branded it an 'historic
mistake', that is a fatal flaw. But supporters say the compromise was
necessary to halt Iran's nuclear advances so that the real bargaining
could begin, and should help keep both sides focused on the final
negotiations which lie ahead. A senior Western diplomat acknowledged that
Iran could resume its most controversial activity - production of 20
percent enriched uranium - if it should decide to abandon the deal or if
final talks fail. But by making it easier for inspectors to detect any
such move, the preliminary accord requires Tehran to demonstrate its
sincerity while a final deal is hammered out. 'This is all about testing
their good faith. We would pick that up very quickly if they did it,' the
envoy said. 'Any agreement like this represents an element of compromise.
Given where we were six months ago, to get the two sides together to
agree something, there had to be some compromise from both sides.'
Instead of requiring Iran to take steps that would be hard to undo, the
powers' demands focused on stopping the higher-grade enrichment and
halting future progress in other parts of the nuclear program for six
months, while increasing inspections to determine if Iran is complying...
In addition to lower-grade work which began in 2007, Iran has since 2010
been enriching uranium to 20 percent purity, which Western countries see
as a small technical step from reaching the 90 percent level needed to
make a bomb. In fruitless meetings during 2012, the powers sought a
confidence-building, interim deal that would require Iran to stop its
higher-level enrichment, close its Fordow enrichment site and send its
stockpile of the higher-level uranium abroad. Those demands were dubbed
'stop, shut, ship' by diplomats. In the end, the November 24 deal in
effect dropped two of the three demands: it obliges Iran to 'stop' 20
percent enrichment but says nothing about 'shutting' Fordow or 'shipping'
material out. The same number of centrifuges can continue to spin,
producing lower-level enriched uranium at Fordow - built deep inside a
mountain near the holy Shi'ite Muslim town of Qom to shield it from any
military attacks - and at Iran's other enrichment plant close to the
central town of Natanz. And instead of sending out the stockpile of 20
percent uranium, Iran will dilute it or convert the gas to a less
proliferation-sensitive oxide powder. The United States says this will
'neutralize' the material. But experts say Iran could in theory convert
the powder back, although it has agreed not to build a facility to do so.
'This is not a roll-back of the program,' said Olli Heinonen, former
deputy director of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and now
an expert at Harvard University. Instead, he said, it represents a
'temporary halt' of many of the nuclear program's elements. Apart from
the enriched uranium, Western countries are also concerned that Iran
could produce plutonium at Arak, an unfinished research reactor where
Tehran says it intends to make medical isotopes. Plutonium can be used as
an alternative to enriched uranium to build a bomb core. Sunday's deal
requires Iran to halt activity at Arak, although it may contain a
loophole allowing it to build components off-site. In comments unlikely
to go down well in Western capitals, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad
Javad Zarif said on Wednesday that construction would continue at Arak,
though he said there would be no new equipment installations. Western
officials and experts accept that the deal leaves Iran's nuclear program
largely in place for now. 'For the time being, Iran will be allowed to
retain most of its current infrastructure, which will have to be
substantially reduced at a later stage,' said Robert Einhorn, the U.S.
State Department's non-proliferation adviser until earlier this
year." http://t.uani.com/1cbYiSo
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email Press@UnitedAgainstNuclearIran.com
United Against Nuclear
Iran (UANI) is a non-partisan, broad-based coalition that is united in a
commitment to prevent Iran from fulfilling its ambition to become a
regional super-power possessing nuclear weapons. UANI is an
issue-based coalition in which each coalition member will have its own
interests as well as the collective goal of advancing an Iran free of
nuclear weapons.
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