South-South co-operation and Iran's LEU Swap deal

South-South Co-Operation and Iran's LEU swap deal

(Madan Menon Thottasseri)

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South-South co-operation is for finding solutions common to the developing nations. Iran seized the opportunity while hosting the G-15 summit mobilised support to endure the threat of fresh sanctions against nuclear adventures.

RUSSIA and CHINA had acted as a traditional drag on efforts to punish Iran for its nuclear defiance, either preventing new Security Council sanctions or watering down their potency. They did not formally endorse the IAEA resolution in 2006, which referred Iran to the Security Council, starting the process that has resulted in three sets of sanctions on the Islamic Republic. Their backing for the document at the Vienna in 2009 Meeting thus reflected a broad international resentment with Tehran. It also appeared to signal a possible support for any new Western push for a fourth set of U.N sanctions, should Tehran continue shunning international overtures meant to reach agreements that reduce concerns about its nuclear ambitions. It was fact that Iran did divide the world community all these years. The overwhelming vote at the IAEA proved the unity and strength of the international community against the nuclear adventures of Iran.

India's role in nuclear ambitions of Iran were over once we voted the German sponsored resolution at the IAEA at Vienna in Nov,2009 and referred it yet again to the Security Council. The IAEA resolution was endorsed by six world powers - the U.S., Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany - reflecting a rare measure of unity on Iran. Brazil and Turkey being temporary members of the Security Council have been very critical of sanctions proposed against Iran. There was a U.S backed Plan wherein Iran initially agreed for swapping the LEU (Low Enriched Uranium) in return for the fuel from Russia and France, for its medical reactors. Iran finally took a U-turn and wanted the swap inside the Iranian soil only!

As Brazil is the latest entrant as major player on the international stage and the talks between President De Silva with Iranian President Md. Ahmedinejad indicated a stand against U.S dominion. U.S may think that Iran was buying time while moving closer to develop nuclear weapon. Brazil took a big risk when it may even have to alienate from the U.S, the most powerful nation in the world. Brazilian President demonstrated to be bold enough and challenge U.S on critical issues from Trade to Climate Change and also on Coup in Honduras to never ending embargo against Cuba.

It is a fact that Iran cannot construe the LEU swaps with Turkey as if it reaffirmed the right to enrich uranium and even offered the prospect of cooperation "on nuclear power plant and research reactors construction." The Vienna group will have lot of apprehension including on the reduced quantity of 1200 pounds of LEU to swap when compared with the previous U.S proposal for 2640 pounds! Further west will imagine that Iran would have developed enough quantity of LEU stock into enriched uranium sufficient at levels needed for development of weapons as seven months were over after its U-turn from the U.S proposal. As per the present swap proposal, it may be the fact that fuel rods to be returned to Iran would contain material process to just below 20%. This has to dispel all apprehensions by west as enrichment up to 90% is needed to produce material for warheads. Still the question unanswered areas are there…..how will Turkey enrich LEU as it has no full-fledged capacity or facility? It must have even agreed for the venue of fuel exchange; will it redirect the material to Brazil or to the Russia or France itself, the same nations where the LEU from Iran was proposed to be shipped as per the previous U.S initiated proposal? Why didn’t Brazil proposed for shipment of nuclear material to Argentina which has the capacity for enrichment?

The issue of the U.N draft to impose fresh sanctions despite Iran arriving on an agreement mainly brokered by Brazilian President De Silva should just go off-course. There may be reasons for the west to still suspect Iran as there may be indiscernible areas that are to be cleared by Iran. At the same time U.S and western allies should not go on within mindset of clamping sanctions without looking into the prospects of discussion and negotiations.

U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-Moons mild approach and appreciation of the positive factors on Iran’s LEU swap agreement is fantastic. His remark that the swap agreement could be positive if followed by broader engagement with the international community is more relevant now and it is to be seriously taken note off, not only by Iranian camp but also by the U.S and western allies.
Brazil and Turkey can muster more support from the G-15 nations and prevail on the west to understand the situation and reach a consensus on issues