Iran’s Nuclear Program: The Deal, Prospects and Implications

ME’s current geo-strategic dynamics may prolong talks on Iran’s nuclear programme

The talks over Iran’s nuclear programme may linger on to many years because of the changing geo-strategic dynamics of the Middle East.

These view were expressed by experts in the roundtable ‘Iran’s Nuclear Program: The Deal, Prospects and Implications’, held at the Institute of Policy Studies, Islamabad on September 24, 2014.

The event was addressed by Dr. Nazir Hussain, associate processor, School of Politics and International Relations, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, and moderated by Air Cdre (R) Khalid Iqbal, security analyst and member IPS National Academic Council. A number of representatives from civil and military intelligentsia were present on the occasion.

The experts said, there were little prospects of a permanent solution to the issues surrounding Iranian nuclear programme in the short to medium term. The extended period of negotiations linked with the interim deal between Tehran and P5+1 can hardly be expected to produce a lasting arrangement between the two sides.

Dr. Nazir Hussain highlighted that the stakes were high in the negotiations, but the changing circumstances in the wake of the US campaign against the Islamic State (IS) have altered the geo-strategic dynamics of the region. The talks over nuclear programme, therefore, may linger on, he cautioned.

He was of the view that the solution to the issues lies in declaring the Middle East a Nuclear Weapons’ Free Zone where all the countries refrain from nuclear weapons while nuclear energy access should be available to all on equal footings.

Dr. Hussain was of the view that Iran’s nuclear program was not a threat to any of the regional countries. “[Iranians say that] Iran has not attacked any country in the Middle East for last 500 years,” he stressed.

Air Cdre (r) Khalid Iqbal lamented that the international community’s approach on non-proliferation has been country specific instead of being based on a criteria. He backed his argument with the example of waiver for India in the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).

The seminar participants were of the view that international organizations such as International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have lost credibility as they continue to take the side of the powerful countries.