Iran Nuclear Deal a Stepping Stone to Better Things ... Maybe! (De
TIJD, Belgium)
"For years, anything comparable to this would have been
impossible - even as the economic blockade slowly suffocated Iran. ... Simple
this is not. The past teaches us that Iran is not an easy negotiating partner -
and the extent to which the religious regime could eventually come round and
give up a majority of its nuclear ambitions is questionable."
Former Iranian hostage C. Cortlandt Barnes, who spent 444 days in captivity when the Shah of Iran was toppled, calls the nuclear deal with Iran 'a historical mistake.'
The
agreement on the Iranian nuclear program is a stepping stone to a broader deal.
If in six months’ time further steps are taken, the groundwork will have
been laid for a truly historic agreement.
But
we're not quite there yet. In any event, that an agreement has been reached
between Iran and the world powers - the five permanent members of the Security
Council and Germany - is a breakthrough in its own right. For years, anything
comparable to this would have been impossible - even as the economic blockade slowly
suffocated Iran.
The
agreement means a temporary shutdown of Iran's nuclear program, with the pause used
for the purpose of reaching a final agreement in six months’ time.
Simple
this is not. The past teaches us that Iran is not an easy negotiating partner -
and the extent to which the religious regime could eventually come round and
give up a majority of its nuclear ambitions is questionable. In any case, economic
sanctions will be partially reversed, giving some needed oxygen to its feeble
economy.
There
is tremendous mistrust. That can be seen from Israel's crusty reaction, which outright
called the agreement "bad." Also in Saudi Arabia, negotiations are
looked on with suspicion. It is the job of the United States to reassure these
two faithful allies to prevent a new front from opening in the region.
Everything
now depends on whether in six months, these talks result in broader and more
permanent agreement. Then we'll see whether Iran was simply employing diplomatic
delaying tactics or not.
An
agreement with Iran also opens up the possibility of a breakthrough in the
Syria conflict, because Iran is the Assad regime's greatest backer. According
to U.S. President Barack Obama, this is a "first" but "necessary
step" to having more normalized relations with Iran.
For
peace in the region and for security worldwide, it would be good if further steps
are followed - steps that would eventually lead to a truly historic agreement. That
would be a victory for diplomacy and a positive sign after decades of armed violence
in that region.
