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Expert: No Indication of Iranian Reversal on Nuclear Ambitions
(Jerusalem Post) Yaakov Lappin - There is "absolutely no indication that Iran has any intention of making a strategic U-turn" in its nuclear ambitions, Emily Landau, head of the Arms Control and Regional Security Program at the Institute for National Security Studies in Tel Aviv, said last week, noting that Iran is at the nuclear breakout point already. While Iran is not increasing uranium stockpiles, Landau noted, "it is retaining the vast stockpile of LEU [low enriched uranium] that it had on the eve of the interim deal [signed in November 2013]. And it is continuing research and development on more and more advanced centrifuges." "If it decided to make a dash to the bomb, it could have the fissile material in a matter of months, and it would take some more months to create a warhead." "What we hear from Iran on almost all the issues is 'no': No dismantlement of centrifuges; no ceasing of enrichment; no closing the Fordow [uranium enrichment site] or Arak [heavy water plant]; no discussion of weaponization aspects of its nuclear program, and not cooperating with IAEA on outstanding questions." Since October 2013, Iran's bargaining strategy has been to get a maximum level of sanctions relief in exchange for the absolute minimal nuclear concessions, and "so far it is doing not badly from its point of view."