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The nuclear parleys

Vienna is back in the spotlight as a possible permanent nuclear deal is being cobbled with Iran. Irrespective of the fact that the United States and Britain say they have serious differences to mend, and the gaps are significant, Tehran has dilated a case of optimism and one that could go a long way in addressing the concerns of the international community, especially the West.

Javed Zarif, the articulate Foreign Minister of Iran, said that his country “doesn’t see any benefit” in developing a nuclear weapon. He went on to say that Iran has a number of advantages over its neighbours, including a better technological edge, and it doesn’t need to be augmented with nukes. Last but not the least, Zarif said, “I believe nuclear weapons reduce countries’ influence in our region. It doesn’t help anybody.”

This is clear thinking, and should be enough to clinch a permanent deal with the P5+1 (the US, UK, France, China and Russia — and Germany) engaged in talks under the auspicious of the United Nations. Zarif’s stance merely reconfirms the policy approach from the hierarchy where the Supreme leader Ayatollah Syed Ali Khamenei has more than once reiterated that his country doesn’t believes in going nuclear for the sake of armament. At the same time, Khamenei who has endorsed President Hassan Rohani’s rapprochement strategy with the West is categorical when he says that Iran could eventually need centrifuges for its scientific-oriented nuclear programme. This is no less than a puzzle for the West, as it doubts the intentions of Tehran as it enriches uranium to the maxim.

The crux of the matter is now in debriefing the P5+1 in a convincing manner and letting the parleys triumph. What is needed is a roadmap wherein the International Atomic Energy Agency enjoys access to nuclear sites across the Islamic Republic and in lieu for limiting enrichment the West brings an end to the regime of sanctions. There is no doubt that a lot of ice has melted since Rohani and Barack Obama spoke over the phone last year in September and this confidence among the two arch-rivals is now graduating into a strategic cooperation in collectively countering the upheavals in Iraq. That is why the rubbing of shoulders with the Western emissaries while striking a deal on its nuclear programme has gathered hype.

There is no room to fail for the P5+1 and Tehran, as that would mean plunging the region into new warfare. The civil strife in Iraq and Syria, and the mushrooming of militants with an agenda to vanquish the entire region has threat parallels for Iran. Tehran would be well advised to seal a deal with the West and become a partner in furthering peace and security. A nuclear armistice is indispensable.