The Latest IAEA Report, and the Redirection of Nuclear Talks

13 September 2010 | 21:13 Code : 8632 General category
By Ali Bigdeli.
The Latest IAEA Report, and the Redirection of Nuclear Talks
Last week, the IAEA circulated to member states a report that included data on Iran’s nuclear program. Iran has barred certain IAEA inspectors from entry, and failed to report intended new nuclear sites, the report alleges.

On the verge of every round of negotiations between Iran and Western countries, out pops a report by the IAEA –regardless of who chairs the UN watchdog; moderate ElBaradei or pro-West Amano- which seems to be merely aimed at influencing the negotiations’ agenda and undermining Iran’s position in the talks.

Group Six (the five UNSC permanent members plus Germany) has not yet reacted to Amano’s latest report. In the meantime, the new round of negotiations will perhaps end with no tangible result, since Iran has nothing new to tell the global powers.

According to the IAEA’s latest report, Iran has cranked up its uranium enrichment and increased its stockpile by 15% since June—a growing stockpile that is feared by the West (and a fact that compelled the US, France and Russia to promise Iran nuclear cooperation if it reduced its stockpile, at the Vienna Talks last October). With the Bushehr nuclear power plant running, Western countries expected Iran to place a moratorium on highly uranium enrichment. The impact of Amano’s report on the course of nuclear talks between Iran and the West will be difficult to label as favorable.

Things seem a bit fuzzy a few weeks before nuclear talks begin. Turkey and Brazil are sidelined by the great powers, and Iran has faced up to the new situation. A step back by Iran, aggravated by its defiant move to initiate highly uranium enrichment in retaliation for rejection of the Tehran Declaration, will further complicate the negotiations with the Five plus One.

Twenty percent uranium enrichment will once again fuel claims that Iran is moving toward weaponization of its nuclear program. While the IAEA’s previous reports had left unnoted Tehran’s contended plans for production of nuclear weapons, its latest offering brings the issue back to the surface. Tehran has bypassed Moscow and Paris, nuclear stops for enrichment of its uranium stockpile, and this has caused the West’s consternation.

* Ali Bigdeli is professor of Shahid Beheshti University and diplomatic analyst.