Tehran, YJC. Heinonen says Iran has still to achieve an understanding on actual verification measures.
Olli
Heinonen, Senior Fellow at Belfer
Center for Science and International Affairs. Harvard Kennedy School, has
discussed Iran’s nuclear deal in an interview with a local news agency.
In recent days we saw
some negative signs that may destroy the Geneva Agreement between Iran and 5+1.
Heinonen in an interview with a local news agency express his views about 'Joint Plan of Actions' his assessment about the implementation of this agreement in the future and the obstacles two sides may face on implementation of this.
He says in these regards.
The delay in the start of the implementation of the Joint Plan of Actions is a
matter of concern for several reasons. The text of the plan appears to
commit Iran to freezing its program at its magnitude not on November 24, but
rather on that of the date of implementation, which remains still to be
agreed. This means that, for example, by January 24, Iran will have
produced additional 460 kilograms of uranium enriched up to 5 percent and
additional 30 kilograms of uranium enriched to 20 percent. In addition,
Iran has been continuing, as stated the other day by Mr. Salehi, the production
additional centrifuges, and its uranium mines and milling facilities are likely
continuing to produce and process uranium ore.Work on the Arak
reactor is proceeding.The nuclear program proceeds, and
questions are increasingly raised whether then negotiations are just a means of
Iran to buy time.
Former Deputy Director-General for Safeguards at the International Atomic Energy Agency continued "Another
argument effecting the discussion is that the continued Iranian advancement of
its uranium and plutonium programs is against various legally binding UN Security Council resolutions, which obligate Iran to "without further delay suspend . . . all
enrichment-related” activities and "all heavy-water related projects,”
including construction of the Arak reactor. Also the questions regarding the
military dimension of the program appears to be deferred to a later date."
While
the delay changes the situation on ground, the forces opposing the deal gain
additional momentum due to reasons mentioned above he expressed.
With
regard to the verification, it should not be difficult to achieve such an
agreement. The verification measures agreed and implemented between the IAEA
and Iran in 2003/2004 can serve as a good basis for monitoring ofthe
activities during the initial phase. However, after the P5+1 and Iran have
reached their agreement, the IAEA and Iran has still to achieve an
understanding on actual verification measures, which means additional round(s)
of negotiations. Once the IAEA has confirmed that Iran has, indeed, complied
with the terms of the Plan, sanctions will be lifted. Even in a good case,
several weeks will pass before that stage is achieved, Heinonen added.