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Iran: What New Nuclear Opportunity?

(National Interest) Emily B. Landau - All of the talk about a new opportunity with the new Iranian president, Hassan Rowhani, lacks credibility. Rowhani has clarified unequivocally that there will be no suspension of uranium enrichment, which is a basic demand of the P5+1. More advanced centrifuges have been installed at Natanz, and suspicions regarding hidden facilities continue. The plutonium route to a military capability is on course, with the reactor at Arak due to become operational in 2014. And stockpiles of enriched uranium are growing. Of course Rowhani is interested in dialogue, in order to (ab)use his image of moderation to get sanctions off his back, but not to reverse Iran's military nuclear ambitions. He has offered no new proposals, and has said that he is looking for the U.S. to make the first move by taking "practical steps." Those clinging to the narrative of moderation should also take note of the statements Rowhani has made on Syria. The new president is strongly supporting the Assad regime, and has blamed Israel for being behind what is happening in that country. Pressure is the only card the West has to play in terms of leverage on Iran, and therefore cannot give it up. Without pressure - indeed, without greatly increased pressure - Iran will never negotiate seriously on the nuclear issue, especially now that it is so close to its goal. Blaming the West for pressing too hard is something that merely plays into Iran's hands. The writer is a senior research associate at the Institute for National Security Studies at Tel Aviv University.
2013-08-23 00:00:00
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