U.S. negotiates more with Iran
Nuclear weapons, fraudulent elections, Islam, and more come to mind at the mere mention of the country Iran. These very things have been the topic of much debate within the country and around the world and have led to talks between Iran and six of the world’s major powers.
Over the summer, elections took place in Iran, and the unpopular President Ahmadinejad was declared the victor and remained in office. The election created much dispute in the country, as it was reported that in some places, Ahmadinejad captured the majority where polls had previously shown almost total support for his opponent and in other districts there were more votes than voters.
The questionable outcome led to protests throughout July and the beginning of August as Iranian people and world powers demanded a recount. In August, the Iranian government arrested some protestors, including former President Khatami and two other highly regarded, anti-government leaders.
During the September 18 national anti-Israel march on Jerusalem Day the protestors got involved again, manipulating some of the nation’s anger and hatred for Israel to foment more dispute over the election. Instead of creating national unity, as the march was intended to do, it increased the anger against President Ahmadinejad. As The New York Times reported, “When government men shouted ‘Death to Israel’ through loudspeakers, protesters derisively chanted ‘Death to Russia’ in response.” This exhibited their dissatisfaction with President Ahmadinejad’s win becasue Russia supported the election results.
As a new initiative to tackle the issue of Iran’s fraudulent elections, the nuclear program, and other topics of interest, Secretary of State Hilary Rodham Clinton was charged with the task of creating a meeting with Iran. This decision to engage in talks helps fulfill President Obama’s pledge to engage Iran. Prior to the talks, Clinton said she hoped they would not be meaningless and would determine whether or not Iran was ready to engage in true negotiations. She hoped to discuss the Middle East peace process and universal nuclear disarmament with Iranian officials. The other countries that joined the United States in this October 1 session with Iran in Geneva included Britain, France, Germany, Russia, and China.
The week before the UN meeting, Obama proposed a policy of “freeze for freeze” with Iran. If enacted, Iran would freeze its nuclear program in return for the United States freezing (stopping) new sanctions against Iran in the UN. President Ahmadinejad did not take kindly to this proposal and his reaction made the situation even more tense.
Over the weekend of September 26-27, Iran tested its short and long range missiles. Intelligence agencies were able to estimate the farthest extent of the missile to be able to reach Israel. This was troubling to countries in the Middle East and around the world, especially the United States.
The United States was also troubled by the discovery of a new uranium enrichment facility near Qum, discovered on September 25, where it is supposed that Iran is further developing a nuclear weapon. Israel was especially fearful because of the religious conflicts between Israel’s Judaism and Iran’s Islam. Israel continues to push for stricter measures against Iran.
If future negotiations don’t go well, the economic situation could worsen for Iran. In a worst-case scenario, the Europeans could add to the effect of sanctions by limiting goods and services to Iran, Russia could stop its supply of weapons to Iran, and China could stop its refinery services to Iran, cutting down 40% of Iran’s oil. The New York Times reports that even if Russia and China use their veto power in the UN Security Council, the United States still claims that it will be able to place heavier economic sanctions on Iran through its many allied countries.
The US and its allies hoped to get information from Iran on the blueprints and true intentions of its newly discovered nuclear site. Some of the countries taking part in the negotiations fear that the new sanctions, such as the reduction of refined oil traded to Iran, may unite the people behind President Ahmadinejad. Another New York Times article reported that someone heard President Ahmadinejad claim that he: “would ‘warmly welcome’ additional sanctions because it would only make his country more self-sufficient.”
The result of the talks was that Iran decided to open its newly discovered uranium enrichment facility at “Qum to international inspection in the next two weeks and to send most of its openly declared enriched uranium outside Iran to be turned into fuel for a small reactor that produces medical isotopes, senior American and other Western officials said,” as reported by the New York Times. Most of the enriched uranium has been sent to France and Russia in order to be processed to make nuclear fuel. The estimates of the enriched uranium have led experts to estimate that Iran does have the ability to make a single atomic bomb in the near future, something the major countries hope to prevent through their negotiations with Iran. The International Atomic Energy Agency only reaffirmed the beliefs, as its report disclosed that Iran had sufficient information to design and build a working atomic bomb, but that it does not plan on actually producing one.
The major countries view progress made thus far as a major advancement in the talks with Iran; Iran’s ability to make a nuclear weapons has been reduced and there is more time for additional negotiations to take place. In spite of the hopeful results, President Obama is still cautious due to the many failed attempts at negotiations with Iran in the past and “warned Tehran that he was prepared to move quickly to more stringent sanctions if negotiations over Iran’s nuclear ambitions dragged on, ” as quoted by the New York Times.
France and Britain have given Iran a deadline of December for Iran to negotiate seriously with the major countries over stopping its nuclear enrichment program and to cooperate fully with the International Atomic Energy Agency. Meanwhile, President Obama has an agreed to a two-week deadline for Iran to allow nuclear inspectors into the country. Only time will tell how the negotiations with Iran will turn out, whether it gives up its nuclear program, or is subjected to some of the strictest sanctions ever.
Over the summer, elections took place in Iran, and the unpopular President Ahmadinejad was declared the victor and remained in office. The election created much dispute in the country, as it was reported that in some places, Ahmadinejad captured the majority where polls had previously shown almost total support for his opponent and in other districts there were more votes than voters.
The questionable outcome led to protests throughout July and the beginning of August as Iranian people and world powers demanded a recount. In August, the Iranian government arrested some protestors, including former President Khatami and two other highly regarded, anti-government leaders.
During the September 18 national anti-Israel march on Jerusalem Day the protestors got involved again, manipulating some of the nation’s anger and hatred for Israel to foment more dispute over the election. Instead of creating national unity, as the march was intended to do, it increased the anger against President Ahmadinejad. As The New York Times reported, “When government men shouted ‘Death to Israel’ through loudspeakers, protesters derisively chanted ‘Death to Russia’ in response.” This exhibited their dissatisfaction with President Ahmadinejad’s win becasue Russia supported the election results.
As a new initiative to tackle the issue of Iran’s fraudulent elections, the nuclear program, and other topics of interest, Secretary of State Hilary Rodham Clinton was charged with the task of creating a meeting with Iran. This decision to engage in talks helps fulfill President Obama’s pledge to engage Iran. Prior to the talks, Clinton said she hoped they would not be meaningless and would determine whether or not Iran was ready to engage in true negotiations. She hoped to discuss the Middle East peace process and universal nuclear disarmament with Iranian officials. The other countries that joined the United States in this October 1 session with Iran in Geneva included Britain, France, Germany, Russia, and China.
The week before the UN meeting, Obama proposed a policy of “freeze for freeze” with Iran. If enacted, Iran would freeze its nuclear program in return for the United States freezing (stopping) new sanctions against Iran in the UN. President Ahmadinejad did not take kindly to this proposal and his reaction made the situation even more tense.
Over the weekend of September 26-27, Iran tested its short and long range missiles. Intelligence agencies were able to estimate the farthest extent of the missile to be able to reach Israel. This was troubling to countries in the Middle East and around the world, especially the United States.
The United States was also troubled by the discovery of a new uranium enrichment facility near Qum, discovered on September 25, where it is supposed that Iran is further developing a nuclear weapon. Israel was especially fearful because of the religious conflicts between Israel’s Judaism and Iran’s Islam. Israel continues to push for stricter measures against Iran.
If future negotiations don’t go well, the economic situation could worsen for Iran. In a worst-case scenario, the Europeans could add to the effect of sanctions by limiting goods and services to Iran, Russia could stop its supply of weapons to Iran, and China could stop its refinery services to Iran, cutting down 40% of Iran’s oil. The New York Times reports that even if Russia and China use their veto power in the UN Security Council, the United States still claims that it will be able to place heavier economic sanctions on Iran through its many allied countries.
The US and its allies hoped to get information from Iran on the blueprints and true intentions of its newly discovered nuclear site. Some of the countries taking part in the negotiations fear that the new sanctions, such as the reduction of refined oil traded to Iran, may unite the people behind President Ahmadinejad. Another New York Times article reported that someone heard President Ahmadinejad claim that he: “would ‘warmly welcome’ additional sanctions because it would only make his country more self-sufficient.”
The result of the talks was that Iran decided to open its newly discovered uranium enrichment facility at “Qum to international inspection in the next two weeks and to send most of its openly declared enriched uranium outside Iran to be turned into fuel for a small reactor that produces medical isotopes, senior American and other Western officials said,” as reported by the New York Times. Most of the enriched uranium has been sent to France and Russia in order to be processed to make nuclear fuel. The estimates of the enriched uranium have led experts to estimate that Iran does have the ability to make a single atomic bomb in the near future, something the major countries hope to prevent through their negotiations with Iran. The International Atomic Energy Agency only reaffirmed the beliefs, as its report disclosed that Iran had sufficient information to design and build a working atomic bomb, but that it does not plan on actually producing one.
The major countries view progress made thus far as a major advancement in the talks with Iran; Iran’s ability to make a nuclear weapons has been reduced and there is more time for additional negotiations to take place. In spite of the hopeful results, President Obama is still cautious due to the many failed attempts at negotiations with Iran in the past and “warned Tehran that he was prepared to move quickly to more stringent sanctions if negotiations over Iran’s nuclear ambitions dragged on, ” as quoted by the New York Times.
France and Britain have given Iran a deadline of December for Iran to negotiate seriously with the major countries over stopping its nuclear enrichment program and to cooperate fully with the International Atomic Energy Agency. Meanwhile, President Obama has an agreed to a two-week deadline for Iran to allow nuclear inspectors into the country. Only time will tell how the negotiations with Iran will turn out, whether it gives up its nuclear program, or is subjected to some of the strictest sanctions ever.
Tags: Agency, Atomic, Energy, Iran, Obama, Qum, UN, middle_east, negotiations
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