What Do You Know About Iran’s Nuclear Development Program?

Speaking of negotiating a treaty with Iran, there’s an op-ed by William Broad and David Sanger at the New York Times that should at the very least make you uneasy:

While those talks have dragged on for 18 months, Iran has let inspectors deep inside its production facilities and observed every commitment on cutting back its production of nuclear fuel. But it has continued to stiff-arm the inspectors on the question of suspected “military dimensions,” despite agreeing to another work plan. The Obama administration has said little about that silence.

Last month, the inspectors reported that “Iran has not provided any explanations” for two of the three design questions now on the table. The other nine remain in limbo.

So will Iran have to come clean before the economic sanctions are lifted? American officials won’t say. “It’s the most sensitive topic for the Iranians,” said one former American negotiator. “Is it worth blowing up a potential agreement in the name of forcing a confession?”

I think the answer to that question is not only “yes”, it’s fundamental. If you don’t have a trustworthy interlocutor, you have nothing.

Take a look at the diagram of issues that haven’t even been addressed (at least as far as the writers know). It’s pretty disquieting.

4 comments… add one
  • TastyBits Link

    Are the sleuths smarter than the Iranians are cunning? If not, they will have only located the least important things, but the Iranians will be enhancing their security and secrecy. The Iranians will always be several steps ahead of the sleuths no matter how good they are.

  • PD Shaw Link

    I don’t think I agree with the skepticism about dealing with some untrustworthy. Ultimately it is a question of alternatives analysis. If we make a deal, what happens if Iran violates it? If we don’t make a deal, what happens if Iran develops a nuclear weapon? Which negative scenario is worse?

    I don’t have the information to answer these questions, but I will point out that it sounds like the opposition in Congress is not pressuring for a deal at all costs. Though I would presume that a deal which simply delays a nuclear weapon for three years has virtues.

  • Though I would presume that a deal which simply delays a nuclear weapon for three years has virtues.

    Cardinal among which is that it kicks the can down the road until after the next general election.

  • steve Link

    Suppose that they had looked at these things in the past. Does that mean we should not have an agreement? Is the goal here confession or Iran not having nukes?

    Steve

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