Glad to see Iran's good news that they are ready to talk. More interesting to see that they have their enrichment cycle complete--yeah right. Production ready is another issue.
However, the negotiations should be interesting with Iran as I'm aware that other Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) members are keen to see the implementation of a central agency to provide fuel rods to countries seeking nuclear power instead of them deciding to enrich their own. In all truth I understand their concerns.
However, I see this as a potential problem for countries as this speaks directly to their sovereignty and their ability to have the final say over the lifeblood of their utilities--namely electricity. Having to rely on some outside agency affords that agency or its proxies veto power over the country i.e. "Do what we want or no fuel rods--no fuel rods equals no electricity." Effectively a country can then be held to ransom.
For many countries they'll have no choice but to purchase their rods and for most it makes common sense. However, for a country like Iran that has the ability to sustain the entire enrichment cycle from mining the yellow-cake all the way to fuel rods. It would be deliberately putting itself in a vulnerable position and I can't see it doing this without a security guarantee from the U.S. Perhaps this is the good news?
Personally, I had always hoped that other NPT members and the IAEA would instead seek to amend the NPT itself rather than try to leverage Iran into these type of external agreements all the time. I'm not talking about the standard conformance agreements here but ones that fundamentally alter the terms of the NPT and it provisions. It has always been Iran's contention that it was willing to negotiate but only within the boundaries of the NPT itself.
This has been a central sticking point regarding the issue of video monitoring of its enrichment facilities on the grounds that this is an onerous requirement not placed on other NPT members. Now apparently they are willing to negotiate this. Again is there a security guarantee on the table and if so where does this leave the POTUS' regime change plans?
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Interesting. Hopefully some good will come out of the negotiations.
showmetherules.blogspot.com
Interestingly, this is one of the concerns that the Indians have had with the 123 Agreement with the United States in that there is no assurance of uninterrupted fuel supplies. In fact, India is denied the right to reprocess the used fuel nor can it ship it back to the U.S. unless Congress approves the reshipment.
Nige, Is that part of the 123 Agreement or the Hyde Act?
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