Iran was being engaged in negotiations to maintain its path for civil nuclear energy alone and not develop weapons. Threats of attack, sanctions, arms embargo and freezing of Iranian assets in international Banks did not bring about the desired results but at least brought the Iranians to negotiate with P5+1. Eighteen months of intense parlays, finally clinched the deal despite protests by Israel and the Arabs, who are traditionally allies of the US and perceived the nuclear deal to be a sell out to Iran. They believe Iran has been supporting the uprisings in the Arab world and will be emboldened in its pursuit of clandestinely developing nuclear weapons. The persistence of the P5+1 paid off and Iran has agreed to dismantle a sizable number of its centrifuges, surrender 98% of its enriched uranium to a third country for downgrading and drop its plutonium program altogether as well as bring transparency in IAEA's inspections. Iran has actually agreed to follow a road-map to achieve these steps and obtain verification which may take up to six months.
President Obama on the other hand will face an uphill task to have the deal approved by the US Congress, which has a Republican majority. He wants to leave a legacy of peace and having averted another war in the region. Some analysts fear that the Arabs will now scramble to acquire nuclear weapons of their own because the sunset clause of the Iran nuclear deal is ten years. Moreover, they fear that with sanctions being lifted, Iran may pursue its support to insurgents in the Arab world more vigorously. It is hoped that Iran will behave in a more matured and responsible manner.
Pakistan has welcomed the deal because with the lifting of sanctions, its gas pipeline project with Iran can be rejuvenated.
Participants:
Ambassador Tariq Osman Hyder
Ambassador Ali Sarwar Naqvi
Host: S. M. Hali