Iran's proposal to the international community re nuclear issue

On 13 May 2008, Iran presented its package of proposals over its nuclear issue to Javier Solana, European Union (EU) foreign and security policy chief, and United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, as well as submitted it to China, Russia and Switzerland.

Case Background:
European states insist that Iran halt production of nuclear materials at least temporarily. In this regard, three resolutions were adopted by the Security Council: 1696 (2006), 1737 (2006) and 1747 (2007) imposed sanctions aimed at addressing Iran’s nuclear programme with the requirement that Iran suspend all enrichment and related reprocessing activities.

On 22 February 2008 the Director General of the IAEA, Dr. Mohamed ElBaradei, submitted a report entitled “Implementation of the NPT Safeguards Agreement and relevant provisions of Security Council resolutions 1737 (2006) and 1747 (2007) in the Islamic Republic of Iran” to the Board of Governors. The Agency had been able to continue to verify the non-diversion of declared nuclear materials in Iran, but the Agency was not in a position to determine the full nature of Iran’s nuclear activities.

Iran is a member of Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty as a non-nuclear weapon states. In its numerous statements at Disarmament forums Iran argued that it had the right for peaceful use of nuclear energy according to international agreements.

Proposal:

Iranian Ambassador Ali Asghar Khaji submitted a proposal, which called for an overhaul of an international treaty to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons. The details of proposal have not been yet released. But Khaji highlighted that issues of terrorism, energy security, and etc. should be delt together.

Assessment:

Iran did not comply with the IAEA requirements and Security Council resolutions 1696 (2006), 1737 (2006) and 1747 (2007).

Despite international pressure, Iran had not yet suspended its uranium enrichment or heavy water projects, as required by the relevant Security Council resolutions. On the contrary, Iran insists on its right for peaceful uses of nuclear energy as outlined in Article IV of the NPT.

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that especially nuclear weapon states should concudt similar policy as in the case of North Korea, in partiuclar - provide security guarantees to Iran that it is not under threat of military action and engage in diplomatic relations.

A proposal of Iran regarding international treaty that would address global threats of nuclear weapons proliferation could partially target Israel with its covert nuclear weapons program. It is not a secret, that Iran an ardent supporter of Israeli disarmament and universalization of the NPT.

Despite the fact that Isreal is not a member of NPT and has nuclear weapons (as proved by CIA in the early 1980s), the United States conduct a favorable policy towards Israel, while accusing Iran of pursuing nuclear weapons.

While Iran should abide by the international requirements, at this state of international affairs and threats of nuclear materials falling in the hands of terrorists, it is critical to abandan any double-standard policies and use dipolomacy as a key tool to resolve existing conflicts at the international arena.

Additional info could be found at:

www.spacewar.com

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/05/14/europe/EU-GEN-EU-Iran.php

http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSNLAW00006220080513