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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsFred Kaplan: The Deal of a Lifetime
There are still questions to be answered, but the nuclear agreement with Iran is very good news.
By Fred Kaplan
The Iranian nuclear deal reached in Switzerland on Thursday is a significant breakthrough. Uncertainties remain, inherently so, as its merely a political framework for a formal deal to be completed and signed by June 30. But this framework turns out to be far more detailed, quantitative, and restrictive than anyone had expected.
It might not lead to a deal as good as the outline suggests; it might not lead to a deal at all. But anyone who denounces this frameworkanyone who argues that we should pull out of the talks, impose more sanctions, or bomb Iran because its better to have no deal than to have this oneis not a serious person or is pursuing a parochial agenda.
If this deal is fully implemented, Iran will be unable to build a nuclear bomb by enriching uranium or by reprocessing plutonium for at least 10 years. Some of the restrictions imposed by this deal would last 15 years. The international inspections of certain aspects of Irans nuclear program would stay in place for 25 years.
As for the economic sanctions against Iran, they would be lifted not upon the deals signing, as the Iranians initially demanded, but only after the inspectors have verified that Iran has fulfilled all of its commitments in the deal.
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underpants
(182,284 posts)Heard a local RW radio guy saying yesterday, in a fit of rage, how Kerry&Obama got "played" and that they look like "clowns". That quote from Kaplan nails that type.
hifiguy
(33,688 posts)I met him on a few occasions at CES when we wrote for the same audio magazine. He knows what is what.
fadedrose
(10,044 posts)And President Obama is inviting the heads of all the countries in the area around Iran to Camp David to get on board with the Agreement. How wise he is to not allow them to feel unimportant or left out.
I am already thinking about Camp David - I'm assuming that it'll be Saudi Arabia, Yemen (?), UAAR, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, Iran, Egypt, Turkey, hmm, lemme see, who else? Oh yes, Israel. Almost forgot Israel....
Wonder what embellishments he'll provide to make sure that peace is maintained? Drugs, alcohol, porn movies, a petting zoo with friendly animals? Whatever works....
Good luck there to the President and John Kerry and all of State Dept. hard-working people. You will need it.