Another 5+1 Unsubstantive Package?

In the next few days, the representatives of 5+1 countries, except the US, will present Iran with another package of incentives to halt its nuclear activities. It is not clear who will represent the 5+1 countries at the talks and where those talks will take place. However, it has been said that Javier Solana along with deputy foreign ministers of those countries will come to Iran to officially present their package.

 

The content of the new package is not known yet. The only leaked news out of the last week 5+1 meeting in London was that the package consists of more economic incentives for Iran including in the nuclear field provided that Iran suspends its enrichment program. The Iranian officials have repeatedly rejected any notion that would imply suspending its enrichment activities. That was the basis for the rejection of previous packages given to Iran in the course of the past two year. 

 

Iran’s position in this regard is not unclear to the 5+1 countries. During the talks with the EU-3 foreign ministers in Geneva in the summer of 2005, Dr. Rowhani, the then chief Iranian negotiator told the European ministers that any package without clear reference to Iran’s right to uranium enrichment would not be acceptable to Iran. The same position was conveyed by the Iranian foreign minister to the British foreign minister in Kuwait last week .

 

One cannot appraise the package until its content is known. However, given the positions of the US and its European allies on this issue, it is highly unlikely that the 5+1 countries acknowledge, in their package, Iran’s right to enrichment. Therefore, under these circumstances, it is not surprising to observe Iran’s rejection of any package short of an unambiguous reference to its right of enrichment in accordance with NPT. Furthermore, it is unwise on the part of 5+1 countries to present another package more or less similar to the one presented in 2005 without taking into consideration the fact that Iran’s peaceful nuclear program has advanced dramatically.

 

Iran’s position was strengthened last year when the US intelligence agencies

exonerated Iran of any military nuclear activity in its nuclear program. Furthermore, Iran’s cooperation with IAEA in clearing the six outstanding issues, as reflected in the February report of the Agency, has given Iran another important argument for insisting on its right to enrichment which is being exercised under the monitoring of IAEA .

 

At this juncture, what is important for all sides is to start negotiation without any condition. No party will benefit from lack of talks. On the contrary, through dialogue and genuine negotiations one can expect that trust between all sides is built and an amicable solution can be found to address the concerns of western countries while Iran’s rights to peaceful nuclear activities including enrichment on its soil in accordance with NPT is recognized.