Historic Nuclear Deal With Iran
  [Part I]

I have read a lot of scaremongering and genuine concerns about a nuclear deal with Iran. There is nobody better placed to outline this agreement than the incumbent President Barack Obama. Not too long ago an unprecedented diplomatic snub was afforded to the Office of the President of the most loyal supporter of Israel, the United States. It was evident at that time that firm leadership from America was urgently required if the whole region of the Middle East and the Gulf was not to go completely to the dogs.

There was a period when I too was adamant a deal with Iran was not possible without endangering the State of Israel. This, coincidentally, was the policy position of the United States for several years. A number of factors have altered the situation. Some are best left to Middle East specialists within the Department of Defense, the State Department and independent analysts viewing trends in the region and the myriad of new threats which a very belligerent Israeli Prime Minister appears, in his blind obstinacy, unable to fathom.  Indeed I have it from one source that unless the analysis 'fits' Prime Minister Netanyahu's political objectives, you are pretty much fired from your job (in Israel's Civil Service-especially those Departments servicing Right-Wing and Religious Parties) being perceived as 'disloyal' and untrustworthy.  It's against a background of ever increasing dangers in the entire region and with a view to renewing trust, friendship and economic cooperation across the Arab world, that President Obama has acted. Some of these dangers are quite apparent.   Others are spin-offs from regional instability and extreme radicalization – which are greater threats to Israel than a nuclear deal with Iran could ever pose.    I do not claim to be a Middle East specialist but I know a few individuals who are and it is their views I am articulating here.   If sanity ever returns to the art of diplomacy and politicians ever begin to act again like politicians not vocal fishmongers in the town market and statesmen again like statesmen and stateswomen not rabid political party or corporate 'hacks' then history will start to judge this agreement for what it really is, the voice of sanity in an insane region where hate of Arab or Jew is schooled from Kindergarten to the grave.   It's an unworkable situation which will only lead to future bloodshed and violence on as yet unborn generations of Israelis and Arabs – and someone has to speak out for them as they are not necessarily born into this world to die because of ignorance and intolerance.    With all this hatred in mind, someone like President Obama, has to attempt a different approach.  
There used to be a phrase 'blessed are the peacemakers' - but don't use it in Washington these days within Republican circles or you will be crucified on the cross of intolerance, racism, ignorance and bigotry.   You will fare just a little better within Democratic circles.

[On a lighter note, I was recently told I was 'unwelcome' at an Israeli Embassy Reception in a European Capitol city if I raised any 'awkward questions' which might 'embarrass' the Ambassador.   So Israel is now attempting to silence even vocal supporters whose only objective is the search for a permanent peace in the region (the Middle East) between Arab and Jew.   Just for the record, I politely declined the 'invitation' on the basis that my own diary was 'too busy' to 'fit' the Ambassador's kind invitation into my very busy schedule for that particular day.   This was relayed not direct to the Embassy but to the group afforded the marvellous photo opportunity event for all participating.  The one thing I did miss was the Carmel wine – some of which would be worldwide hits if grown in more 'tolerable' climates without stigma.]

Correction on 18th April:
The sentence should have read 'fired from Israel's Civil Service especially those Departments servicing the Knesset's Right-Wing and Religious parties' rather than 'from Israel'.

©Patrick Emek, 2015

[Part II]
So here's the deal, direct from the office of The President whose State Department Team, led by Secretary John Kerry, worked overtime to achieve:

''Today, the United States, together with our allies and partners, reached a historic understanding with Iran.

If fully implemented, this framework will prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, making our nation, our allies, and our world safer.

For decades, Iran has been advancing its nuclear program. When I took office, Iran was operating thousands of centrifuges -- which can produce the materials for a nuclear bomb -- and was concealing a secret nuclear facility. I made it clear that the United States was prepared to find a diplomatic resolution, if Iran came to the table in a serious way.

But that didn't happen.

So we rallied the world to impose the toughest sanctions in history, profoundly impacting Iran's economy. Sanctions couldn't stop Iran's nuclear program on their own, but they helped bring Iran to the negotiating table.

And after many months of tough and principled diplomacy, the United States -- joined by the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Russia, China, and the European Union -- achieved the framework for a deal that will cut off every pathway Iran could take to develop a nuclear weapon.

I want you to understand exactly what this deal entails:

First, it stops Iran from pursuing a bomb using plutonium, because Iran will not develop weapons-grade plutonium. The core of its reactor at Arak will be dismantled and replaced. The spent fuel from that facility will be shipped out of Iran for the life of the reactor. Iran will not build a new heavy-water reactor. And Iran will never reprocess fuel from its existing reactors.

Second, it shuts down Iran's path to a bomb using enriched uranium. Iran has agreed to reduce its installed centrifuges by two-thirds. It will no longer enrich uranium at its Fordow facility, and it will not enrich uranium with its advanced centrifuges for at least the next 10 years. And the vast majority of its stockpile of enriched uranium will be neutralized.

Third, it provides the best possible defense against Iran's ability to pursue a nuclear weapon in secret. Iran has agreed to the most robust and intrusive inspections and transparency regime ever negotiated for any nuclear program in history. International inspectors will have unprecedented access not only to Iranian nuclear facilities, but to the entire supply chain that supports Iran's nuclear program -- from uranium mills that provide the raw materials, to the centrifuge production and storage facilities that support the program.

If Iran cheats, the world will know.

In return for Iran's actions, the international community has agreed to provide Iran with relief from certain sanctions -- our own sanctions, and international sanctions imposed by the United Nations Security Council. This relief will be tied to the steps Iran takes to adhere to the deal. And if Iran violates the deal, sanctions can be snapped back into place. Meanwhile, other American sanctions on Iran -- for its support of terrorism, its human rights abuses, and its ballistic missile program -- will be fully enforced.

Now, our work is not yet done. Negotiators will continue to work through the details of how this framework will be fully implemented, and those details matter. And let me be clear: If Iran backslides, and the verification and inspection mechanisms don't meet the specifications of our nuclear and security experts, there will be no deal.

But if we can get this done, and Iran follows through on the framework that our negotiators agreed to, we will be able to peacefully resolve one of the gravest threats to the security of our nation, our allies, and the world.

Learn more about today's historic deal and how it will make the United States, our allies, and our world safer:

https://www.whitehouse.gov/Iran-deal


Thank you,


President Barack Obama ''


The White House • 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW • Washington, DC 20500 • 202-456-1111



Source:The White House Website
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