There’s Always Room for Diplomacy
Interview with Ali Khorram
While United States’ chairman of Joint Chiefs Michael Mullen claims that Iran has enough nuclear material to make a bomb, US Defense Secretary Robert Gates believes that Tehran is not close to building the weapon…
While United States’ chairman of Joint Chiefs, Michael Mullen, claims that Iran has enough nuclear material to make a bomb, US Defense Secretary Robert Gates believes that Tehran is not close to building the weapon. Gates believes Iran is not close to the stockpile and that gives United States and other states time to stop Tehran from following its plans for nuclear arms development. Iranian Diplomacy has asked Ali Khorram, political analyst, about the contradictions in US officials’ opinion:
How do you see the disagreement between US officials over Iran’s nuclear program?
Actually, it is better for Iran if its nuclear program remains a vague issue and Western officials continue to make contradictory claims about it. It is not our duty to explain, interpret or prove their remarks. If West wants to interprets Iran’s nuclear activities in its own way, that is no problem. They can understand it as they like.
Has Iran slowed the pace of its nuclear activities?
No. And everything is proceeding according to the schedule, but the publicity may have become less intense during the past year. Recently there have been talks about obstacles Iran is facing. Of course the organizations in charge should explain about that, but it is clear that technical issues have nothing to do with diplomacy.
Robert Gates thinks that Iran is not close to the nuclear weapon and that gives the United States and others time to try to persuade Tehran to abandon its suspected nuclear arms program. Is Iran’s present nuclear status an opportunity for dialogue between Iran and West?
Diplomatic issues have nothing to do with Iran’s nuclear program being behind or ahead of the schedule or its connection to military goals. Diplomacy is a solution, one that replaces soft approaches with threat and other tough means. There is always room for diplomacy and now that the Americans have taken up diplomacy we should seize the opportunity.
IAEA’s latest report stressed Tehran’s continued lack of cooperation. How strong will be the repercussion of this report on West’s attitude towards negotiations with Iran?
There was nothing new in IAEA’s report. In its reports on Iran’s nuclear activities, IAEA always attempts to take the upper hand, so that it could demand further cooperation from the Iranian side. The reports are definitely a leverage for Five Plus One, but Iran doesn’t submit to pressures.
No exact date has been set for start of operations at Bushehr nuclear power plant. How can this affect Iran’s nuclear progress?
Bushehr power plant construction is following the schedule and Russia is committed to the project. However, the power plant’s function is different from Iran’s other nuclear facilities. It is constructed for electricity generation, while Natanz, Esfahan and Arak are scientific-technological facilities. That rings the alarm for West. Bushehr power plant is just like Iran’s other electric power plants. The only difference is that it works with nuclear fuel, not gas.
While United States’ chairman of Joint Chiefs, Michael Mullen, claims that Iran has enough nuclear material to make a bomb, US Defense Secretary Robert Gates believes that Tehran is not close to building the weapon. Gates believes Iran is not close to the stockpile and that gives United States and other states time to stop Tehran from following its plans for nuclear arms development. Iranian Diplomacy has asked Ali Khorram, political analyst, about the contradictions in US officials’ opinion:
How do you see the disagreement between US officials over Iran’s nuclear program?
Actually, it is better for Iran if its nuclear program remains a vague issue and Western officials continue to make contradictory claims about it. It is not our duty to explain, interpret or prove their remarks. If West wants to interprets Iran’s nuclear activities in its own way, that is no problem. They can understand it as they like.
Has Iran slowed the pace of its nuclear activities?
No. And everything is proceeding according to the schedule, but the publicity may have become less intense during the past year. Recently there have been talks about obstacles Iran is facing. Of course the organizations in charge should explain about that, but it is clear that technical issues have nothing to do with diplomacy.
Robert Gates thinks that Iran is not close to the nuclear weapon and that gives the United States and others time to try to persuade Tehran to abandon its suspected nuclear arms program. Is Iran’s present nuclear status an opportunity for dialogue between Iran and West?
Diplomatic issues have nothing to do with Iran’s nuclear program being behind or ahead of the schedule or its connection to military goals. Diplomacy is a solution, one that replaces soft approaches with threat and other tough means. There is always room for diplomacy and now that the Americans have taken up diplomacy we should seize the opportunity.
IAEA’s latest report stressed Tehran’s continued lack of cooperation. How strong will be the repercussion of this report on West’s attitude towards negotiations with Iran?
There was nothing new in IAEA’s report. In its reports on Iran’s nuclear activities, IAEA always attempts to take the upper hand, so that it could demand further cooperation from the Iranian side. The reports are definitely a leverage for Five Plus One, but Iran doesn’t submit to pressures.
No exact date has been set for start of operations at Bushehr nuclear power plant. How can this affect Iran’s nuclear progress?
Bushehr power plant construction is following the schedule and Russia is committed to the project. However, the power plant’s function is different from Iran’s other nuclear facilities. It is constructed for electricity generation, while Natanz, Esfahan and Arak are scientific-technological facilities. That rings the alarm for West. Bushehr power plant is just like Iran’s other electric power plants. The only difference is that it works with nuclear fuel, not gas.