Deal with Iran is a milestone to stop nuclear weapons development
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We commend the tentative agreement reached on Thursday on curbing Iran's nuclear programme as an important milestone to prevent nuclear proliferation in the Middle East.
Talks over Tehran’s suspected development of nuclear weapons, which surfaced in 2002, between Iran and six powers – the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China – finally reached an agreement on the framework of a final deal to settle the issue.
The main parameter of the framework agreement is that Iran’s right to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes is respected to a certain extent, but its capability to develop nuclear weapons is substantially restricted to prevent uranium being enriched to weapons-grade.
Iran agreed with the six powers not to enrich uranium above 3.67 per cent for 15 years after a final pact is signed, to reduce the current number of its uranium enrichment centrifuges by about two-thirds to 6,104 for 10 years, not to construct new enrichment facilities and to redesign its heavy-water reactor so it will not be used for military purposes.
These measures are said to extend Iran’s breakout timeline – the time required to complete one nuclear weapon even if Tehran starts making it – to at least one year from the current two to three months.
We also think it is significant progress that Tehran agreed to allow the International Atomic Energy Agency to enhance inspections of nuclear facilities in the country.
It is important to construct a system in which the international community can constantly keep an eye on Iran, which is suspected to be secretly developing nuclear weapons.
Iran was apparently prompted to make concessions because its economy is in tatters following long-term financial and trade sanctions that were imposed by the international community since 2006.
The sanctions are expected to be lifted in phases depending on the Iranian government’s compliance with the terms of a final pact. However, detailed procedures still remain unclear.
It is important for Iran to reach a final comprehensive agreement on the issue with the United States and the other powers by its deadline at the end of June.
The countries concerned have to work out details on unresolved
problems by pressing ahead
proactively with consultations on
a roadmap to fulfil agreements on reducing Iran’s capability to develop nuclear arms, lifting of sanctions
and inspections by IAEA.
It is worthwhile noting that the United States and Iran have moved closer through the talks, as US President Barack Obama has described the deal as a “historic understanding with Iran”.
The two countries’ diplomatic relations deteriorated with the 1979 Iranian Revolution led by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini and remain almost completely severed today.
In spite of that, Iran has maintained its integrity and influences countries around it while many countries in the Middle East have become chaotic.
For the United States, Iran’s cooperation is considered a key to eradicate the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant militant group and settle civil wars in Syria and Yemen.
It is concerned, however, that its allies have expressed caution about Iran’s expanding international role.
