By Steve Hynd
A group of foreign policy experts and non-proliferation experts is set to relase a statement today calling upon the U.S. and the Vienna Group to back the Iranfuel-swap deal proposed by Turkey and Brazil. The text of the statement below (Via Trita Parsi):
June 1, 2010
On Monday, May 24, 2010, the head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran delivered a letter to the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) outlining Iran's commitments to export 1200 kg of Low-Enriched Uranium (LEU) to Turkey in exchange for fuel assemblies to power the Tehran Research Reactor.
This marked a significant concession from Iran's previous position, which demanded the exchange take place in small batches, inside Iran's borders, and simultaneous to the delivery of reactor fuel.
The political paralysis inside Iran that scuttled the fuel exchange proposal when it was first offered in October seems now to have subsided.
The proposal currently being considered has the backing of Iran's Supreme Leader as well as centrists, reformists, and leaders of the Green Movement in Iran, making it more likely that Iran will abide by the terms of its commitments.
Left unresolved in the current proposal is the troubling matter of Iran's continued enrichment of uranium up to levels approaching 20%.
Additionally, even after a successful fuel exchange, the need for Iran to fully satisfy the IAEA and accept a more rigorous inspections regime will remain, as will concerns about the size of its LEU stockpile.
Notwithstanding these issues, Iran's agreement to export a large portion of its LEU outside of its borders for up to a year is worthy of consideration.
If enacted, this proposal would begin the process of addressing a major -- but not the only -- aspect of the strained relationship between Iran and the international community, and would represent a first step in halting Iran's progress toward a nuclear weapons capability. 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.
The permanent five members of the UN Security Council plus Germany (P5+1) should take advantage of this opportunity as the first step in a broader dialogue that could include further confidence building measures, such as halting enrichment of uranium above 5%, as well as resolving regional security issues, protecting human rights in Iran, and other issues of mutual interest.
Signed, Amb. Thomas Pickering, Dr. David Kay, Gen. Robert Gard, Dr. Jeffrey Lewis, Dr. Jim Walsh, Daryl Kimball, Dr. Farideh Farhi, Dr. Juan Cole, Dr. Trita Parsi.
It's a sensible position that at least attempts to move the political ball downfield, as opposed to the intransigence shown by SecState Clinton when the deal was first proposed by Brazil. Clinton's apparently preferred version of events would inescapably move from sanctions to military action.
Let's hope Obama has the sense to listen to these experts instead of "Madame AIPAC", as Clinton is known in Iran. His original letter to Lula of Brazil indicated a far more innovative approach than hers.
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