#Iran. With just weeks to go Iran and the nuclear negotiation teams from China, the UK, France, Germany Russia and the US will conclude what could be a historic agreement on Irans nuclear programme that would ensure its solely for peaceful purposes. Signs are both encouraging and discouraging. The UK is reopening its embassy in Tehran, but hawks are getting louder on all sides. What needs to be part of the deal? A whole bunch of stuff, some of it really technical that goes way over my head, but several people cleverer than me and well versed in nuclear issues all seem to agree on these points. 1) Verifiable limits on uranium enrichment and plutonium production. 2) Real sanctions relief. 3) Increased international inspections. 4) Slowly Increasing nuclear supplies to Iran from verifiable sources to discourage it from developing its own. A big sticking point seems to centrifuge numbers. Centrifuges are those spinning things that are very vital, mainly I think because they spin. Iran wants to keep all of its 20000 spinning things spinning, but the P5+1 wants about a tenth of that as part of the deal. Russia is important in all of this. Ive read far too many articles on what Russia wants or doesnt want. As far as I can figure out this might be key. If Russia supplies the Bushr plant with all the stuff it needs to keep glowing over ten years, then it might back Iran to the hilt, and maybe be the difference between deal or no deal. But the Iranians are wondering what the west might give. After all Russia cant make jeans for shit and western denim is pretty good, so why wouldnt western nuclear stuff be better? However, if Russia doesnt get the Bushr contract long term then it might not back Iran. The Russians sulk quickly. Just ask Ukriane. The key to all of this is sanctions relief. Iran has the right to pursue nuclear civilian technology as it has signed the NPT. Israel, India, Pakistan, North Korea havent signed the NPT. Guess what they all have in common? The naughty boys all went and developed nukes right under the USs nose, and the CIA didnt even notice. Probably because the CIA was trying to figure out who they actually support. Give Iran real sanctions relief, seriously Iranian pistachios are way better than the Turkish and Californian crap you buy at the supermarket, and allow them to make good on what they have always maintained. That the program is peaceful and that Iran can stick to agreements. The deadline is July 20th. Can there be people on all sides that can deliver the deal? You gotta hope so. Insert Persian bazaar and bargaining end thought here.
Posted on: Thu, 26 Jun 2014 16:00:58 +0000