The western European members of the Iranian nuclear deal issued a joint statement on recent Iranian moves, expressing deep concerns about the increased uranium enrichment, and warning that they were putting the chances for a deal with Biden at risk.
All the statement really did was mirror the objections of the Trump administration to Iran’s increases to its civilian nuclear program, complaining that there is “no credible civil justification” for them. And yet they are plainly purely civil in nature.
Iran’s parliament ordered increases in the program after the assassination of Mohsen Fakhrizadeh in November. His killing was believed to be an Israeli attack, and parliament wanted to express its displeasure.
The Rouhani government has tried to limit this specifically to avoid threatening a deal with Biden. Since Iran’s increased enrichment is totally reversible, there is little reason to believe that would be an obstacle.
Iran uses 20% enriched uranium to make fuel rods for the Tehran Research Reactor. Though Iran may not be in a specific moment of need for more fuel rods just now, parliament believes that the message sent is justification itself.
20% is only for civilian use, and far short of the 90% needed for weaponization. Iran has produced up to 20% before, but never attempted to go beyond that. Claims of a military dimension are just not well-founded.
And really, that’s all that was needed to do this. Iran can either make fuel rods as needed, or dilute it back down to lower levels for more immediate use if diplomacy makes that a preferred route. None of this should negatively impact negotiations, and merely gives Iran more leverage when the talks begin.
Yes, excellent. The EU probably feels that it must offset its recent rapprochement with China, with some old-fashioned Iran-bashing, some ‘deep concerns.’ Thirty-seven million people in the Middle East, the ones still alive, have been driven out of their homes, victimized by the US and EU, and the EU has deep concerns about a nation invading nobody and yet humbled by US sanctions. . .Go figure.
Are you referring specifically to Iraq? The whole Middle East, from Egypt to Iran, Turkey to Oman, has a population of over 419 million.
TBH the EU is a toothless tiger it said it would continue to trade with Iran until it`s washington masters said stop or else , it`s time the EU stepped out of americas shadow.
There won’t be a new nuclear deal… But in case one materializes, it will be based on minimum 20% enrichment level…!
20% enrichment is a message, a threat, to do a deal or see highly enriched done next.
Why? It is a bargaining tactic.
Given all the bad faith directed at Iran, it is an understandable and entirely justified tactic. They could hardly do anything else.
Want them to stop? There was a deal and they honored it. Those who want them to stop are the ones who started this.
So to stop Iran, expel from power all those among our side who started this.
A good start would be to refuse to discuss the matter with Netanyahu or Israel, in any form under any circumstances, and to shun everyone linked to dealing with him. That would be a clear message of good faith.