Question:
What happened that made Iran return to agreeing to enrichment outside its territory in Turkey, and signing an agreement to that effect with Brazil and Turkey?
Answer:
Lately, European pressure has intensified to impose harsh sanctions on Iran due to its nuclear program. This pressure increased with the arrival of the new British government, which even threatened military action. Naturally, Britain cannot act alone but intends to drag America into an escalation with Iran. Furthermore, the British Foreign Secretary, William Hague, headed to the United States on his first foreign visit only three days after taking office, where he emphasized that ("he chose to head to Washington on his first visit as British Foreign Secretary to emphasize the special relationship with the United States") Asharq Al-Awsat, 15/05/2010. This was in reference to a report issued by a group of members of the British House of Commons earlier, questioning the special relations between the two sides. Thus, William Hague confirms the importance of this relationship and Britain's need for it.
Hague pledged to pressure Iran and expressed his agreement with the American position, saying ("that his government would work to convince the European Union to adopt strict resolutions and measures with Iran, adding: We agree on the need to send a strong and unified message regarding Iran’s nuclear program, and to pass a Security Council resolution, after which the United Kingdom will play a key role in ensuring that there is firm action from the European Union to follow up on such a resolution") Asharq Al-Awsat, 15/05/2010. His request to tighten sanctions on Iran is a first stage leading to the creation of international legitimacy for military action. He said, ("We have not ruled out supporting military action in the future, but we are not calling for it") same source as above. This is not merely negotiating pressure on Iran but is Britain's stance. It was clear during the riots that swept Iran following the presidential elections that "Britain" is trying hard to destabilize the Iranian regime and eliminate it. It is trying to create a pressing European opinion in cooperation with France and Germany, not to mention the Israeli pressure in this direction.
Consequently, America agreed with Iran to task the President of Brazil and the Prime Minister of Turkey to go to Iran and sign a uranium exchange agreement. This was intended to stop the momentum of threats and sanctions championed by Europe, particularly Britain and France behind it, in addition to "Israel." And so it was; Iran signed the latest agreement under the sponsorship of Brazil and Turkey. It stipulates Iran's agreement to send 1,200 kilograms of low-enriched uranium at 3.5% to Turkey to be exchanged for 120 kilograms of high-enriched uranium at 20%, which is required for the peaceful research reactor located in Tehran. The core of this agreement had been proposed by the Atomic Energy Agency to break the deadlock in negotiations between Iran and the five major permanent members of the Security Council plus Germany about a year ago, but that agreement failed at the time due to issues of guarantees and trust.
Two main clauses related to guarantees and trust were added to this new agreement:
- That enrichment in Turkey be a middle ground.
- If negotiations on implementing this agreement fail with the Vienna Group—consisting of America, France, and the International Atomic Energy Agency—then Turkey is obligated to return the low-enriched Iranian uranium to Iran.
By scrutinizing this agreement, we find that it was America that encouraged Brazil and Turkey to sponsor it. The France24 website reported: "The United States, Russia, and France officially encouraged the visit of Lula, the President of Brazil, to Tehran and considered it the last chance to avoid sanctions." The Al-Masry newspaper reported this same news on 18/05/2010, quoting unidentified news agencies.
The story of this agreement began with the dinner banquet to which the Iranian Foreign Minister, Manouchehr Mottaki, invited all fifteen members of the UN Security Council, including the five great powers, Turkey, and Brazil—who are non-permanent members of the Security Council—on the sidelines of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference.
That dinner banquet was attended by the second-ranking official in the US mission to the United Nations, Alejandro Wolff, and representatives at the ambassadorial level or lower for all fifteen Security Council members participated in the banquet.
News reports quoted an American official before the dinner saying: "The United States considers this banquet a new opportunity for Iran to prove to the Security Council that it is capable of fulfilling its obligations."
The success of passing this agreement means saving Iran at the last moment from certain sanctions that Europe was preparing with the United States, China, Russia, and Germany, and granting Iran at least another three months before sanctions are imposed on it should any future disagreement occur.
There is no doubt that the actions of Turkey and Brazil were at the behest of America. This is evidenced by the fact that Brazil, the eighth economic power in the world, needs America to continue its economic growth, and it signed a military defense agreement with America months ago.
As for Turkey, Prime Minister Erdogan stated that he would coordinate directly with America regarding the implementation of the terms of the agreement. Then he later stated that what was done was in coordination with Washington... and a similar statement was issued by Brazil!
America's reliance on Turkey and Brazil in times of need helps it maneuver in delaying sanctions on Iran as Europe and the Jewish state desire on one hand. On the other hand, it means America benefits from non-permanent members of the Security Council at the expense of the permanent members.
In conclusion, the entry of Turkey and Brazil as new parties in the Iranian nuclear file helps America avoid any strike or harsh sanctions lurking for Iran. This is because Brazil and Turkey’s involvement in signing the agreement is a clear break in the unity of the so-called international community against Iran on this file.
Furthermore, the agreement was drafted in general terms that require negotiations for its implementation. This gives Iran a chance to catch its breath from the pressure of the international community, especially Europe. Whether the agreement is implemented sooner or later, the wave of pressure on Iran will gradually subside. Likewise, the embarrassment Europe and the Jewish state cause America to carry out military action or even effectively impactful sanctions will also have been removed.