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The Need for Speed in Negotiations with Iran

(Washington Institute for Near East Policy) Simon Henderson and Olli Heinonen - Despite public statements suggesting progress in talks between the P5+1 and Iran, the actual advances so far appear to be limited to atmospherics. Ceasing production of enriched uranium and stopping the installation of more centrifuges would be an important initial indication of good faith. Equally important would be a changed attitude toward verification. This goes hand in hand with verification of the military-related questions the IAEA has raised since 2004, as well as concerns over the plutonium-capable IR-40 heavy-water reactor at Arak, which is steadily approaching its commissioning. Any concessions granted to Iran, such as allowing it to enrich uranium at all, would soon be demanded by other countries that have previously been denied those rights. Indeed, rewarding Iran in this way for noncompliance with its nonproliferation commitments would seem indulgent. Washington needs to negotiate expeditiously, achieving tangible progress that defangs Iran and eases the fears of U.S. allies. Simon Henderson is a fellow at The Washington Institute. Olli Heinonen is a senior fellow with the Belfer Center at Harvard University's Kennedy School and a former deputy director-general for safeguards at the IAEA.
2013-10-31 00:00:00
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