MILITARY AND POLICY EXPERTS CALL ON P5+1 AND IRAN TO SET A PRODUCTIVE AGENDA FOR UPCOMING MEETINGS
Washington DC – February 5, 2013– News Release – The Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation calls upon the negotiators from the P5+1 (The United States of America, the Russian Federation, France, the United Kingdom, the People’s Republic of China and Germany) and the Islamic Republic of Iran to develop a constructive agenda in their forthcoming talks on February 26, 2013.
“Bold leadership from the White House is needed,” said Lt. General (ret. USA) Robert Gard PhD, Chairman of the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation and member of the Council on Foreign Relations. “After decades of stagnation, hopping from one crisis to another with Iran, the negotiators are in a position to develop a proposal that will ensure that Iran does not develop a nuclear weapon and put its nuclear program under stricter controls by the International Atomic Energy Agency.”
According to the Center’s analysis, the agenda should include Iranian concessions that:
- Limit the enrichment of uranium to lower than 5 percent, the level needed for energy production,
- Deposit all 20 percent enriched uranium overseas with a member of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT),
- Dismantle the uranium enrichment capability of the Fordow nuclear facility,
- Oxidize or deposit overseas with an NPT State a substantial (more than 60 percent) portion of uranium enriched to 3.5 percent, and
- Implement the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Additional Protocol.
In return, the P5+1 must be willing to offer incentives including:
- Suspending the implementation of existing unilateral and multilateral sanctions, including those against the Central Bank of Iran and the oil sector; however, these measures would be automatically reintroduced if Iran violates the aforementioned agreement, and
- Freezing the introduction of new sanctions for a brief, but fixed period.
“While a broad reaching resolution is most favorable, a deal that removes all of Iran’s 20 percent enriched uranium and deposits it with a member of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty in exchange for some sanctions relief could be considered a temporary success until the other concerns over Iran’s nuclear program can be addressed,” said Laicie Heeley, senior policy analyst covering Iran at the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation.
“In order to see real movement, both sides must be willing to come to the table with reasonable goals and a healthy respect for acceptable international behavior,” said Heeley. “Iran must take concrete steps to resolve international concerns about Iran’s nuclear program and provide guarantees to the international community; likewise, the P5+1 should be able and willing to reward those positive steps.”
Members of the Center’s staff are available for TV and radio bookings and comment; to speak with the Center, please contact the Center’s communications director at jlewis@armscontrolcenter.org or 202.546.0795 X2113.
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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
