As Iran and six world powers meet this week in Vienna to begin drafting language to resolve their nuclear standoff, negotiators say they are finally confronting a crucial sticking point to a permanent agreement — the size and shape of the nuclear fuel production capability that Iran will be permitted to retain.
It is a subject that, at least in public, the Obama administration steps around, acutely aware that Israel and members of Congress who are highly suspicious of the negotiations will say that Iran must be kept years from being able to develop a weapon, and that opponents of the deal in Tehran will argue that no restraints at all should be imposed.
Both the Iranians and the Western powers have said their talks so far have been productive, with little of the drama, the ultimatums and the entrenched positions that have marked previous efforts. But until now, there has been no formal discussion of how much nuclear infrastructure the United States and its allies would demand that Iran dismantle in return for the gradual easing of sanctions. “This is the sticker-shock conversation, and we haven’t had it yet,” one senior administration official said.
In a visit to Israel last week, the national security adviser, Susan E. Rice, and the chief American negotiator, Wendy Sherman, made clear that the Iranians would almost certainly retain some enrichment capability, though American officials said they never discussed specific numbers. Israeli officials say they expect the figure to be 2,000 to 5,000 centrifuges...
It is a subject that, at least in public, the Obama administration steps around, acutely aware that Israel and members of Congress who are highly suspicious of the negotiations will say that Iran must be kept years from being able to develop a weapon, and that opponents of the deal in Tehran will argue that no restraints at all should be imposed.
Both the Iranians and the Western powers have said their talks so far have been productive, with little of the drama, the ultimatums and the entrenched positions that have marked previous efforts. But until now, there has been no formal discussion of how much nuclear infrastructure the United States and its allies would demand that Iran dismantle in return for the gradual easing of sanctions. “This is the sticker-shock conversation, and we haven’t had it yet,” one senior administration official said.
In a visit to Israel last week, the national security adviser, Susan E. Rice, and the chief American negotiator, Wendy Sherman, made clear that the Iranians would almost certainly retain some enrichment capability, though American officials said they never discussed specific numbers. Israeli officials say they expect the figure to be 2,000 to 5,000 centrifuges...
Source: Hindi News
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