CENTER FOR ARMS CONTROL & NON-PROLIFERATION CELEBRATES IRAN NUCLEAR DEAL THAT ENSURES OPENNESS OF IRAN’S NUCLEAR PROGRAM
Washington DC – November 24, 2013– News Release – The Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation celebrates the new 6-month deal between Iran and the P5+1 (United States of America, Russian Federation, France, United Kingdom, People’s Republic of China and Germany) that will increase the openness of Iran’s nuclear program, and effectively stop the advancement of Iran’s nuclear program.
“This deal is unprecedented. International inspectors will have daily access to Iran’s nuclear facilities to ensure that Iran is not pursuing a nuclear weapon,” said Laicie Heeley, director of Middle East and Defense Policy. “This is leaps and bounds ahead of what we have now in terms of ensuring the national security of the United States and our allies, especially Israel.”
The deal was achieved after intense negotiations between the P5+1 and Iran in Geneva.
“This first step deal includes unprecedented transparency measure on the part of Iran in exchange for a very modest amount of relief,” said Heeley. “Future diplomacy will be necessary to ensure that a more comprehensive, long-term deal is achieved. Congressional support will be imperative to present a united front for effective diplomacy.”
“This first step deal verifiably caps Iran’s nuclear program, stops the most proliferation sensitive aspects of the program, extends the time it would take for Iran to make fissile material for a bomb, and provides time to tests Iran’s intentions,” added Kingston Reif, the Center’s director of nuclear non-proliferation programs. “It is a remarkably strong agreement without which Iran would continue to advance its nuclear program and march toward a breakout capacity.”
Laicie Heeley and other members of the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation are available for media inquiries and bookings by contacting Jim Lewis.
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The Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation is a Washington-based non-profit think tank working to reduce the number of nuclear weapons stockpiled across the globe, increase international nonproliferation programs targeted at preventing the further proliferation of nuclear weapons and nuclear terrorism, redirect U.S. military spending to address 21st century security threats and halt the proliferation of biological and chemical weapons. www.armscontrolcenter.org
