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Tuesday, October 14, 2014

Breaking Through the Iranian Nuclear Impasse

Breaking Through the Iranian Nuclear Impasse

10/14/14
Ramin Asgard
Nonproliferation, Diplomacy, Nuclear Weapons, Iran

"Iran should agree to abandon its nuclear program in full, and in exchange the United States and the P5+1 should agree to lift all UN, U.S., and EU economic sanctions related to Iran’s nuclear program."

With only weeks left until the deadline for a final agreement between the P5+1 and Iran on its disputed nuclear program, sanctions and enrichment remain the sticking points. The focus on maintaining an indigenous uranium-enrichment capacity for Iran, and the equal focus by opponents of a nuclear deal on eliminating any enrichment capacity have hardened into redlines. Meanwhile, the P5+1 has so far been unable to provide specifics on sanctions relief under an agreement, and congressional opposition in the United States threatens to preempt or derail any agreement reached. Only a solution that addresses the top priorities off all key parties can break this deadlock.
Rather than haggling over centrifuges, crafting a complex, gradual and tenuous sanctions-relief mechanism, and hoping a recalcitrant Congress can be brought along, the negotiating parties should demonstrate the courage to adopt a truly comprehensive and enduring solution that all parties can accept. Iran should agree to abandon its nuclear program in full, and in exchange, the United States and the P5+1 should agree to lift all UN, U.S. and EU economic sanctions related to Iran’s nuclear program. Implementation will require both sides to institute robust verification mechanisms to ensure compliance. (Some U.S. and EU national-level sanctions, based upon Iran’s support for terrorism and its human rights record, could remain in place until those issues are addressed.)
Read full articlehttp://nationalinterest.org/feature/the-zero-option-breaking-through-the-iranian-nuclear-impasse-11455

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