Possible Breakthrough in Iranian Nuclear Talks
wesmorgan1Courtesy CBC:
Iran has agreed to a draft deal on its nuclear program, the International Atomic Energy Agency said Wednesday, and diplomats say it has the Islamic Republic shipping most of its enriched uranium to Russia.
IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei said representatives from Iran, Russia, the U.S. and France have signed off on the draft deal after talks held in Vienna this week. ElBaradei said he hoped the respective leaders of the countries involved would approve the deal by Friday.
ElBaradei did not provide further details.
A diplomat inside the closed meeting told The Associated Press the draft deal includes the export of most of Iran's low-enriched uranium, taking away most of the material needed to potentially make a nuclear weapon.
Of course, this is an anonymously-sourced report of a draft deal, so apply grains of salt to taste.
Having said that, this could be a Very Good Thing. According to reports, Iran will export almost all of its low-enriched uranium (LEU) to Russia, which would finalize the processing and return fuel rods to Tehran for its research purposes. Such fuel rods are unsuitable for weapons-grade use.
If this is coupled with IAEA inspection of Iranian enrichment facilities, I think it represents a workable solution. Let's hope that the mullahs in Tehran agree.
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Reader Comments (16)
You know what would be a breakthrough?
Democrats realizing that we can't just trust Iran...
... that would truly be a significant breakthrough.
Some would say the same thing about Russia as well.
Sounds like somebody's still bitter about the bomb bomb bomb Iran guy losing the election last year! Lol.
I can only speculate that maybe you don't realize how ridiculous that sounds. I don't hear anyone from either party calling Iran 'trustworthy."
Well, if we can't trust Iran and Russia, thus we can't negotiate with them then what is all of the hullaballoo about? We all must just roll over and accept the fact that Iran will get nuclear weapons then. It is inevitable according to you so why fight it?
Or do you take the other tack which is to say that war with Iran and Russia is inevitable so we might as well start tossing around nuclear bombs?
Who was it that kept saying, "trust, but verify," again?
Is this the IAEA that thought Iraq had nuclear weapons program or the IAEA that thought Iran wasn't processing nuclear fuel or enriching it for weaponization? Or is this IAEA whose head ElBaradei is so close with Iran’s president that he wears is “Ahmadinejad Is My Homeboy" t-shirt?
Irregardless, as usual when the left tries to co-op a Reagan saying they screw it up because they misunderstand what made it work. As for "trust but verify", the reason Reagan could apply that axiom is that he had the will to back it up if the trust was broken. Or enemies knew this cold. Obama will take to being lied to and call it part of the process and do nothing and embarrass the US and if even himself more if that’s possible.
Obama still thinks he's too cool to fail Thomas.
Thomas's utterly unearned sarcasm crax me up yet again. As it happens, the IAEA have been the ones who got it right on these proliferation issues over and over again.
Meanwhile, no matter how many times the crackpot neocons consistently get it blunderingly and catastrophically wrong, the so-called liberal media never seem able to cull them from their Rolodexes.
When you get to raining sneering and ridicule at the ones who got it RIGHT, you've achieved Wingularity, the Infinite Horizon of Total Nooshanism. Or should we say, "Nooshanality"?
Tom, contrast this with this.
Irregardless indeed, Thomas.
Iran should not arouse concern. Georgia is the most dangerous flashpoint. The Bible says: "At the appointed time [the king of the north = Russia] will return back [will regain the influence, which it lost after the break-up of the Soviet Union] and come into the south [many indicate that this might be Georgia], but it will not be as the former [1921] or as the latter [2008]. For the dwellers of coastlands of Kittim [the West] will come against him, and he will be humbled, and will return." (Daniel 11:29,30a) Then Iran will be humbled also. "But ships will come from the direction of Kittim, troubling Asshur [Russia] and troubling Eber [inhabiting on the other side the Euphrates]." (Numbers 24:24a, BBE)
At that time, peace will be taken from the earth and the "great sword" - nuclear sword - will be used. (Revelation 6:4) However, it will be neither the great tribulation nor "the end of the world" (Armageddon). As Jesus foretold, that will be "the beginning of birth pains". (Mathew 24:7,8)
If the Heavens planned a full return of Russia (and much suggests this) the present economic crisis will deepen. Then also the European Union and NATO will not stands.
In the same way the earlier prophecy had fulfilled: "And (he) [the king of the north = Russia] will go back (to) his land with great wealth [1945]; and his heart (will be) against the holy covenant [state atheism]; and will act effectively; and turned back to his own land [the break-up of the Soviet Union and Warsaw Pact, the return of Russian troops to country]." (Daniel 11:28)
IAEA should be our reverse barometer in the Mideast. I don't how many times they can be wrong on Iran but the left loves them some IAEA/UN idiots.
I'm sure the left wet there pants with glee today over Iran's 'consideration' of ElBaradei's nuclear offer.
You crax me up, Tom. Up is down, black is white.
Like all breakthroughs of this sort, I suspect it will amount to little more than wishful thinking rather than substance.
Hmmm....now, Ha'aretz is reporting that Israel and Iran had their own nuclear discussions in September, as part of a regional conference. We shall see...
The talks between Iran and the European Union's chief negotiators in Geneva failed to reach an agreement Sunday on Tehran's nuclear program, but the sides agreed to resume talks on suspending uranium enrichment in two weeks. For the first time, the sound like interesting. I am waiting for updates.