November 2014 - The U.S., U.K., France, Russia, China and Germany, called the P5+1, have been
negotiating for almost a year on a nuclear agreement with Iran. The aim is to keep Iran from developing nuclear weapons in return for the lifting of economic sanctions on Iran. They reached an interim agreement, which all the parties have faithfully observed: Iran stopped producing 20%-enriched uranium and rendered its existing stockpile unusable for nuclear weapons, while the P5+1 lifted certain sanctions as agreed. This progress has built trust. Iran has also agreed to reconfigure its Arak nuclear reactor to significantly reduce the amount of plutonium it produces, not to use its Fordow underground facility for uranium enrichment, and to allow enhanced monitoring of its facilities.
That leaves the issue of the size and contours of Iran’s uranium enrichment program to be settled. How many centrifuges should remain in its enrichment program, a program it is entitled to under the Non-Proliferation Treaty? Recent reports say 4,500 centrifuges may be acceptable to the P5+1. With about 20,000 centrifuges, about 10,000 operating, Iran’s proposals are hovering in the 7,000 to 10,000 range.
Negotiators are expected to reach a deal by the Nov. 24 deadline. The question is: will Washington and Tehran accept it? In the U.S. Congress, there appears to be significant opposition to accepting any deal that does not call for zero centrifuges—totally unrealistic. But, scuttling this internationally supported deal would leave Iran free to enrich at will, with minimal observation. Such a situation would raise the danger for everyone, and increase the possibility of a military strike on Iran that would unleash even more war in the Middle East.
Contact your Senators and Representative. Urge them to support the P5+1 negotiated nuclear agreement with Iran. Such an agreement will avoid potentially chaotic consequences, including war, and open the door to a more peaceful, productive relationship with Iran.
CONTACT:
YOUR SENATORS & REPRESENTATIVE
202 224-3121 (Capital switchboard)
Senator or Representative (first & last name)
U.S. Senate, Washington, D.C. 20510
U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, D.C. 20515
Photo: Bouquet in Sicily, Lois Barber 2003
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