Talks on Iran's nuclear programme re-start in Istanbul with some hope
Istanbul (AsiaNews) - After a year, talks on Iran's nuclear programme are set to resume. Meanwhile, in Israel a possible air strike to stop the Islamic Republic's military build-up is talked ever more openly.
The meeting between Iran and the P5+1 (United States, Russia, Great Britain, France China and Germania) group should reassure the international community that Iran's nuclear programme is not military in nature.
Tehran has always claimed that its uranium enrichment programmes are meant for energy production and medical treatment. However, for US-based Institute for Science and International Security, Iran has already enough enriched uranium to fuel its research reactor for five to ten years and produce enough isotopes used in medical treatment.
At the same time, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported on 24 February that its inspectors have not been granted sufficient access to Iran's facilities to be able to provide "credible assurance" about the absence of undeclared nuclear activities.
The upcoming meeting in Istanbul should examine ways to keep the programme and the allowed amount of produced enriched uranium under control.
Pre-meeting statements are optimistic. Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu (left, pictured with Jalili), who is hosting the event, said after a meeting with Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili, "After the negotiations between Iran and the P5+1, I will have good news."
Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi told the Washington Post that Iran does not want nuclear weapons, that Ayatollah Khomeini had issued a fatwa against them, and that he hoped that the Istanbul meeting would lead to "genuine efforts to re-establish confidence and trust".
Russia is "optimistic" about the talks as well. China, which is a major customer for Iranian oil, backs diplomatic dialogue and is opposed to sanctions or military action.
The United States remains sceptical about the process, viewing the talks as the "last chance" for Iran. Meanwhile, in February Washington toughened sanctions, squeezing Iran's oil exports by banning bank transactions. The European Union has done the same and imposed an oil embargo that should come into force on 1 July.
New sanctions are further weakening an already fragile Iranian economy. Many companies can no longer sell abroad or import because of frozen bank transactions.
Sanctions have helped push Brent crude prices up as much as 18 per cent this year with great repercussions for Western economies, especially in Europe, already weakened by the global crisis.
Saudi Arabia and Israel are the two countries that would like to hit Iran. Riyadh is concerned about Tehran's influence in the Muslim world and the Middle East, and has announced its willingness to replace any shortfall due to the embargo against Iranian oil.
Israel, the region's only nuclear power, is preparing for possible air strikes against Iran's nuclear sites in order to stop Tehran's military build-up.
Survey results published in the Jerusalem Post on 29 March indicate that 69 per cent of Israelis agree with a joint US-Israel attack against Iran. But only 42 per cent is in favour of Israel going at it alone.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said he would never allow Israelis to "live in the shadow of annihilation", and hinted his country is ready to strike Iran's nuclear facilities if diplomacy does not work soon.
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01/05/2021 08:00
