An Iranian vehicle fires its weapon in war games which are
being conducted by Iran this week.
Iran opened the door slightly to the IAEA deal proposed in October. On Tuesday, Iran’s Foreign Ministry said that it would ship low-enriched uranium to Russia and France for further enrichment and creation into fuel rods so long as it had a “100% guarantee” that it would receive the refined fuel in return. Though this change in dialogue is a step forward, it still may be more than the West would be willing to agree.
Ramin Mehmanparast, a spokesperson for Iran’s Foreign Ministry, stated on Tuesday that in order to obtain this certain guarantee, “Regarding the guarantees we are not going to suggest anything, but one ... could be exchanging it on Iranian soil.” It is highly unlikely that any of the other parties in the talks, the United States, Russia, and France, would agree to such terms.
The basic export agreement within the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) proposal is that Iran would allow Russia and France to complete the enrichment process of the 3.5% pure uranium into 20% pure fuel grade material and turn the material into fuel rods. Then the rods would be shipped back for them to use in their research reactor.
The Director General of the IAEA, Mohammed El Baradei, has given the end of the year as a deadline for the deal. The IAEA visited the Iranian enrichment facility near Qom in October, and the released in a report recently that they are concerned that Iran may have other secret sites. In addition, the IAEA has questioned Iran’s development of a “two point” implosion device, which can be used to create the implosion needed for a nuclear chain reaction in a nuclear fission device.
Last Friday, U.S. President Barack Obama warned Iran that there would be consequences to Iran’s refusal to respond to the IAEA nuclear deal, but also indicated that the door to a diplomatic solution was still open for a limited time if Iran chose to enter.
According to Reuters on Tuesday, the United States, Germany, France, Britain, Russia, and China have drafted a resolution demanding that Iran explain the purpose of its enrichment site near Qom, and confirm that there are no other secret nuclear development facilities in Iran. The document will be presented in an IAEA board meeting which begins on Thursday.
In response to international pressure concerning its nuclear program, on Sunday Iran began to conduct war games in an attempt to practice the defense of its nuclear sites.
There is one indicator that Iran may eventually concede to the IAEA proposal. On Monday, President Ahmadinejad claimed that Iran was the first to propose the idea of a uranium swap. He may be maneuvering his words thus so he can claim a diplomatic victory when an agreement is reached, though this is speculation.
Copyright © 2009 by Raymond Gellner
Comments
It is not clear as why Iran should have any negotiation with the 5+1 in the first place, since Iran is already a signatory to the NPT any ways! Also, why swapping the Iranian LEU within her boarders "..exchanging it on Iranian soil. It is highly unlikely"? What difference would that make to the 5+1 and certainly is unclear!!
In your article you state "..Mohammed El Baradei, has given the end of the year as a deadline for the deal..". I was under the impression that our President B. Obama set that deadline under the Zionists pressure?!
Mr. El Baradei,an Arab has been an obstructionist during the 8 years that he has inspected the Iranian nuclear facilities and he is no friend of Iran. He is too close to the Iran's enemies and although he has not turned up any smoking gun on Iran's nuclear program, he is still putting the pressure on Iran and not the illegitimate requirements of the West including us.
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