[Vredeslijst] Nucleaire onderhandelingen met Iran: theater van het absurde

[Henk van der Keur]

Nucleaire onderhandelingen met Iran: theater van het absurde

De nucleaire onderhandelingen met Iran omschrijft Soraya Sepahpour-Ulrich in Foreign 
Policy Journal als het theater van het absurde (zie hieronder). Het kan inderdaad niet vaak 
genoeg worden herhaald, maar het blijft dweilen met de kraan open. Vrijwel alle grote 
televisiezenders in de VS spraken in hun berichtgeving over de onderhandelingen in Iran 
schaamteloos over `het kernwapenprogramma´ van Iran. Alsof dat een vaststaand gegeven 
is... Journalisten en de mediaconsumenten hebben werkelijk geen idee waar het over gaat in 
de onderhandelingen tussen de `erkende´ kernwapenstaten + Duitsland en Iran.  En aan de 
onderhandelingstafel zelf speelt het internationaal recht geen enkele rol. Daarom raad ik 
iedereen aan om kennis te nemen van de Iraanse versie: nuclearenergy.ir De Iraniërs zijn 
goed op de hoogte van hun rechten op het gebied van kernenergie. Soraya geeft hieronder 
nog eens fijntjes goed gedocumenteerd aan hoe het zit met uraniumverrijking en opwerking 
en verwijst ook naar historische documenten over hoe het er aan toe ging toen de 
Amerikanen nog maatjes waren met het dictatoriale Iran van de sjah. (zie de webpagina van 
Foreign Policy Journal waar naar wordt verwezen)

Iran´s Nuclear Talks: Theater of the Absurd
November 9, 2013 | Foreign Policy Journal | by Soraya Sepahpour-Ulrich
http://www.foreignpolicyjournal.com/2013/11/09/irans-nuclear-talks-theater-of-the-absurd/

For the umpteenth time, Iran and the P5+1 are holding talks to `resolve´ the impasse in 
dealing with Iran´s nuclear program. And for the umpteenth time, the absurdity of these 
meetings is reflected in the futile, repetitious, meaningless dialogue amidst threats and 
ultimatums.  Feigned smiles and optimism add to the theatrics. While theatrics are part and 
parcel of US foreign policy, surely one must wonder why the rest participate in this absurd 
political drama.

The current negotiations, as with past talks, place a great deal of emphasis on Iran´s 
enrichment activities giving the impression that enrichment is at the crux of the matter. It is, 
as far as Iran goes, but this is not the whole narrative. There is far more at stake in the 
outcome of these talks-America´s power to shape and implement international treaties 
according to its whim.

Leading up to the latest round of negotiations, Undersecretary of State Wendy Sherman 
claimed that "it has always been the U.S. position that that article IV of the Nuclear 
Nonproliferation Treaty does not speak about the right of enrichment at all [and] doesn´t 
speak to enrichment, period." (Eminent scholars have successfully argued that Iran has the 
right to enrich uranium under the Treaty). This has not always been America´s `position´.

There is clear indication of a direct correlation between America´s `position´ on Article IV and 
the degree to which a nation is willing to comply with American demands.  In this case, during 
the rule of the Shah, one of America´s pet dictators, Iran had the right not recognized today. 
During the administration of President Ford National Security Decision Memorandum 
(NSDM) 292, dated April 22, 1975, stated that the U.S. shall "Permit U.S. materials to be 
fabricated into fuel in Iran for use in its own reactors and for pass-through to third countries 
with whom we have Agreement."

A year later, the United States went from giving its permission to enrich to demanding that 
Iran do so.  In NSDM 324, dated April 20, 1976, President Ford authorized the U.S. 
negotiating team to "Seek a strong political commitment from Iran to pursue the 
multinational/binational reprocessing plant concept, according the U.S. the opportunity to 
participate in the project." The United States was looking to make a profit from Iran´s nuclear 
enrichment activities.

However, the 1979 Iranian Revolution put an end to American plans and aspirations.  
Iranians sent a clear message: Iran would no longer seek America´s "permission" to declare 
its rights under international treaties. Iran´s insistence on reclaiming its sovereignty led to a 
decision by the United States to stop Iran´s nuclear program in its tracks (and overthrow the 
regime). It failed.

These negotiations are not about Iran, but they are centered on Iran. The outcome of these 
talks is equally important to all countries, specifically to Russia and China-and to a lesser 
degree, Europe.  For the first time since the end of the Cold War, there is a perception of a 
shift away from the unipolar world. At this fateful juncture, should America prevail in hijacking 
international law to suit its polices of the day (dictated by Israel), then all nations will be 
subjugated-including Russia and China.