Powers should consider Iran fuel offer: experts
VIENNA |
VIENNA (Reuters) - World powers should seriously consider a newly-drafted fuel swap plan for Iran to part with some of its nuclear material, even if it is not perfect, a group of high-profile experts said.
The nine experts, including former weapons inspector David Kay, former U.S. Under Secretary of State Tom Pickering and arms control experts Jeffrey Lewis and Daryl Kimball, said the offer should be seen as a possible diplomatic opportunity.
Turkey and Brazil last month resurrected parts of a U.N.-backed offer for Tehran to part with 1,200 kg of its low-enriched uranium in return for special fuel rods for a medical research reactor.
The original U.N. plan, backed by the United States, Russia and France, had been seen as a way to help defuse international tension by removing an amount of material from Iran that could be enough for an atom bomb if enriched to higher levels.
But Western officials have made clear that they are unsure about the new offer, which comes some eight months after the idea was first outlined with the help of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
The United States has said the new plan was a last-minute Iranian attempt to deflect pressure from a push for new U.N. sanctions against its atomic program, which Tehran says is for peaceful uses only.
The group of foreign policy and nuclear non-proliferation experts said in a statement on Tuesday however that the new offer should not be dismissed.
"We urge the so-called Vienna Group (Russia, France, the United States, and the IAEA) to seriously pursue this proposal as an opening for further diplomatic engagement with Iran on outstanding issues of concern," they said.
The statement was distributed by the Washington-based National Iranian American Council, a think tank supported by Iranian Americans and U.S. foundations. The non-proliferation experts are independent figures who work for other think tanks and include respected analysts in the field.
They acknowledged Western concerns that the new proposal did not address Iran's escalated enrichment work, the size of its growing uranium stockpile or its need to cooperate with the IAEA by allowing enhanced inspections.
An acceptance of the plan however, could be the first step in a broader diplomatic engagement, they said.
"Iran's agreement to export a large portion of its low-enriched uranium outside of its border for up to a year is worthy of consideration," they wrote, adding that Iran had made concessions on its previous position in accepting these terms.
Iran had backtracked on the original fuel offer, asking for a simultaneous swap on its home soil.
The experts said the new deal however appeared to have wide backing in the Iranian leadership and so was less likely to become a victim of internal politics.
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THEREFORE, MIDEAST NATIONS NEED TO HAVE PERMANENT IMPARTIAL VETO WIELDING MEMBER AT UN SECURITY COUNCIL NOW !!!. IT NEEDS A CHANGE NOW
U.S. policy on nuclear Iran underscores bias toward Unbreakable bond Israel,
AFTER IRAQ WITH NEVER BEEN FOUND WMD, IT IS CLEAR BY NOW US ANTI IRAN TIRADE
RHETORIC DOUBLE STANDARD IS ONLY ON BEHALF OF UNBREAKABLE BOND ISRAEL, NOT THE
NON PROLIFERATION TREATY OR THE WORLD, TO MAKE SURE THAT ISRAEL IS THE SOLE
NUKES POSSESSOR IN MIDEAST. HISTORY PROVES ITSELF.
THERE IS NO SINGLE CREDITABLE EVIDENCE THAT IRAN FLOUTS THE NPT RULES OR DEVELOPS NUKES.
US AND ZIONIST MEDIA USING PROPAGANDA LIES TO CREATE ILLUSION AND MAKE BELIEVE THAT IRAN IS TO DEVELOP NUKES.
US NEVER CLEARLY STATES WHAT IRAN HAS DONE WRONG WITH NPT.
Washington’s “double standard” on Iran, a signatory to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), while selling “nuclear technology to Israel and India,” a non-signatory to the NPT.
US continues its annual $3 billion assistance to Israel, despite an American law forbidding aid to any country producing weapons of mass destruction. Not only did ISRAEL THREATEN TO SEND SYRIA BACK TO STONE AGE BUT ALSO Israel offered to sell apartheid-era South Africa nuclear warheads in 1975.
Iran is a signatory of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, is at the moment
FULLY in compliance with it, has no nuclear arsenal, and does not even have a
nuclear weapons program. (The treaty allows countries to enrich uranium for fuel, which is all that Iran
is known to be doing). NPT signatories have treaty-based rights to seek civilian energy production, either by enriching uranium or separating plutonium.
In addition, the International Atomic Energy Agency has conducted numerous inspections of Iran’s nuclear facilities but has never found any evidence showing that Iran’s civilian nuclear program has been diverted to nuclear weapons production.
With more than 200 nuclear weapons and the capacity to deliver them against its enemies or use them to buttress its policies, Israel refuses to join the Non-Proliferation Treaty or to open its nuclear facilities for International Atomic Energy Agency inspection. On the other hand, Israel and the United States insist on applying the harshest possible sanctions against Iran, which they fear may be developing nuclear weapons. The United States furthermore is responding to a regional initiative to make the Middle East a zone free of weapons of mass destruction by linking it to progress in the peace process, which means a peace customized by and suited especially to meet Israel’s interests, naturally, because Israel is the sole nuclear power in the region. In promoting this deal, imposed by a nuclear Israel on a much weaker region, the United States is affirming that it certainly pays to be a nuclear power — you get things done on your terms — It is making mockery of other nations when the white house spokesman says Iran must assure THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY. In fact more than hundred countries support Iran’s right to nuclear technology UNDER NPT but the white house spokesman and the media do not consider that number of countries as international community. Only the bullies are entitled speak for other countries.
INDONESIA CERTAIN IRAN’S NUCLEAR PROGRAMME NOT FOR DEFENCE PURPOSES.
OIC backs Iran nuclear declaration
The Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) has backed an Iranian declaration which aims to end a standoff over Tehran’s nuclear program.
UN SECURITY COUNCIL SHALL REJECT IRAN SANCTION FOR THE SHAKE OF PEACE, NOT FOR WAR ON BEHALF OF US AND UNBREAKABLE BOND ISRAEL. INSPECTING IRANIAN VESSELS ON HIGH SEAS LIKE NORTH KOREA IS AN ACT OF WAR BUT IRAN HAS NOT TESTED NUKES.
ISRAELI COMMANDOS BOARDED THE SHIP OUTSIDE OF ISRAEL’S TERRITORIAL WATERS. THERE IS NO LEGAL BASIS FOR BOARDING THESE SHIPS.
Israel insisted that its troops had acted in self-defence after being attacked by those onboard.
But Al Jazeera’s Jamal Elshayyal, onboard the lead ship Mavi Marmara, said troops opened fire even after passengers had raised a white flag.
ISRAEL IS THE REAL THREAT IN MIDEAST, NOT IRAN.
FACTS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES.
U.S. policy IN MIDEAST underscores bias toward Unbreakable bond Israel
Washington’s “double standard” on Iran, a signatory to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), while selling “nuclear technology to Israel and India,” a non-signatory to the NPT.
US continues its annual $3 billion assistance to Israel, despite an American law forbidding aid to any country producing weapons of mass destruction. Not only did ISRAEL THREATEN TO SEND SYRIA BACK TO STONE AGE BUT ALSO Israel offered to sell apartheid-era South Africa nuclear warheads in 1975.Israel opposes creating a nuclear weapons-free zone until Middle East peace has been achieved.
U.S. leaders often claim that they’re acting against Iran on behalf of the whole Middle East region, implying that their strategy has the backing of Arab governments. Washington hawks insist that the Arabs would applaud if the U.S. bombed Iran, utilising the silence of the Arab regimes to speak as if on their behalf. That underscores the importance of the Arab voices that have begun challenging the idea that a confrontation with Iran could produce any positive outcome.
Iran is also said to be a threat to neighbouring Arab states, thereby enabling the U.S. to sell Patriot anti-missile systems to Kuwait, Qatar, United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, and to try and sell to Turkey and Oman as well.
At last Arab League summit, the secretary general Amr Moussa called for the stand-off to be tackled through Arab dialogue with Iran. “We need to see where we differ and where we disagree with Iran and how to deal with that,” Mr Moussa said. “Iran is not an enemy but a fraternal state and dialogue will help bring about peace and stability in the region.
US OUT OF IRAQ, AFGHANISTAN AND PAKISTAN NOW!.
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