IAccording to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), ran has announced further violations of the international nuclear agreement. The country announced in a letter its intention to enrich uranium up to a degree of 20 percent, the International Atomic Energy Agency announced on Friday. When the process should begin is not specified in the letter of December 31.
The Russian representative to the IAEA, Mikhail Ulyanov, had previously reported on the Iranian enrichment plans on the Internet service Twitter, citing IAEA boss Rafael Grossi. One diplomat spoke of “another blow” for the nuclear deal.
The 2015 international nuclear deal is designed to ensure that Iran does not acquire the capabilities to build an atomic bomb. However, the American President Donald Trump unilaterally terminated the agreement he considered inadequate in May 2018 and then put new sanctions into force against Tehran. Then Iran gradually withdrew from the agreement. According to the latest IAEA report published in November, Tehran recently enriched uranium to a degree of purity that was above the limit of the Vienna Agreement of 3.67 percent, but below the limit of 4.5 percent set by the IAEA.
Sipri: “The mood has turned”
The director of the peace research institute Sipri sees the future of the nuclear agreement with skepticism, even under the future American President Joe Biden. Even if the Democrat should pursue other strategic priorities than the current incumbent Donald Trump and say goodbye to his political style: “A successful resumption of the agreement could cost more political capital than Joe Biden is willing to invest,” said Institute Director Dan Smith of the “newcomers.” Osnabrück Newspaper ”.
It is similar in Iran: “There too the mood has shifted because the agreement did not keep what was promised.” As a result of the deal, Iran was neither fully reconnected to world trade, nor have international investors entered the country in large numbers married. “From the point of view of the Iranian leadership, a very special offer would be required from the United States in order to feel fully committed to the agreement again,” said Smith. “I don’t see what Biden could put on the table without Iran voluntarily granting an improbable leap of faith.”
For the transatlantic military alliance, Biden’s election victory is undoubtedly an advantage, but the Stockholm peace researcher does not believe that the NATO allies should have too much hope. “Joe Biden won’t be someone who pushes other participants aside at NATO meetings in order to be in the front row like Donald Trump. But he will definitely ask the Europeans to make an appropriate contribution to their own defense, one should not be under any illusions. “
Smith also firmly believes that the United States will continue to modernize its nuclear arsenal under the new president. “At the same time, I assume that Biden will try to revive bilateral arms control with Russia.”
The opportunity to do so would arise immediately after he took office on January 20: To extend the “New Start” disarmament agreement, which expires in February, Biden and Kremlin boss Vladimir Putin would only have to pick up the phone. “I hope Joe Biden will take care of this after his inauguration. Because with the extension of “New Start” there would be the necessary time to develop a serious perspective for disarmament and arms control after 2026. “
