Comment: After 12 years of negotiations, Iran was able to ink an agreement with the world’s powerful nations to end harsh regimes of sanctions, some of which go as far back as 35 years ago. The document, now known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), is substantively extensive and qualitatively meticulous. It reveals Read more
Continue Reading… I. Iran and E3/EU+3 will take the following voluntary measures within the timeframe as detailed in this JCPOA and its Annexes NUCLEAR A. ENRICHMENT, ENRICHMENT R&D, STOCKPILES 1. Iran’s long term plan includes certain agreed limitations on all uranium enrichment and uranium enrichment-related activities including certain limitations on specific research and development (R&D) activities Read more
Continue ReadingSANCTIONS 18. The UN Security Council resolution endorsing this JCPOA will terminate all provisions of previous UN Security Council resolutions on the Iranian nuclear issue – 1696 (2006), 1737 (2006), 1747 (2007), 1803 (2008), 1835 (2008), 1929 (2010) and 2224 (2015) – simultaneously with the IAEA-verified implementation of agreed nuclear-related measures by Iran and will Read more
Continue ReadingIMPLEMENTATION PLAN 34. Iran and the E3/EU+3 will implement their JCPOA commitments according to the sequence specified in Annex V. The milestones for implementation are as follows: i. Finalisation Day is the date on which negotiations of this JCPOA are concluded among the E3/EU+3 and Iran, to be followed promptly by submission of the resolution Read more
Continue ReadingAnnex I – Nuclear-related measures A. GENERAL 1. The sequence of implementation of the commitments detailed in this Annex is specified in Annex V to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). Unless otherwise specified, the durations of the commitments in this Annex are from Implementation Day. B. ARAK HEAVY WATER RESEARCH REACTOR 2. Iran Read more
Continue ReadingH. FORDOW FUEL ENRICHMENT PLANT 44. The Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant (FFEP) will be converted into a nuclear, physics, and technology centre and international collaboration will be encouraged in agreed areas of research. The Joint Commission will be informed in advance of the specific projects that will be undertaken at Fordow. 45. Iran will not Read more
Continue ReadingJ. URANIUM STOCKS AND FUELS 56. Iran will maintain a total enriched uranium stockpile of no more than 300 kg of up to 3.67% enriched uranium hexafluoride (or the equivalent in different chemical forms) for 15 years. 57. All enriched uranium hexafluoride in excess of 300 kg of up to 3.67% enriched UF6 (or the Read more
Continue ReadingWhat is happening in Yemen and why? by Ahmed E. Souaiaia* In the post-Arab Spring Middle East, the rulers of Saudi Arabia see no place for neutrality. Their default position has become that declared by President Bush after 9/11: You are either with us or against us. Even the winner of the 2011 Nobel Peace Read more
Continue ReadingSaudi Arabia and Yemen by Ahmed Souaiaia During the early days of the so-called Arab Spring, nervous for their own continued rule, the rulers of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), led by the King of Saudi Arabia, proposed the expansion of the GCC to include Jordan and Morocco—but not Yemen. Yemen shares borders with two Read more
Continue Readingby Ahmed E. Souaiaia* On the eve of the Republicans’ takeover of the U.S. Senate and increased control of the House, the Wall Street Journal revealed, on the authority of anonymous sources, that President Obama had sent “secret letter” to the leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Iran took its time confirming it Read more
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