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Arms Control Experts Welcome Iran's Latest Move
But Caution That Much More Needs to Be Done
For Immediate Release: December 18, 2003
Press Contacts: Daryl
Kimball: (202) 463-8270 x107; Paul
Kerr, (202) 463-8270 x 102
(Washington, D.C.): Iran's signature today of an additional nuclear
inspections agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency
(IAEA) is "a significant step toward ensuring that Iran lives
up to its commitment under the nuclear
Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) to forswear nuclear weapons,"
according to the nonpartisan Arms Control Association (ACA). However,
ACA experts point out that the additional inspections agreement,
known as the Additional Protocol, is "vital but insufficient."
Over the last year, troubling revelations make it clear that Iran
is now closer to a nuclear weapons-making capability than previously
believed. An IAEA investigation and inspections earlier this year
led the Agency to report Nov. 10 that Iran had for many years pursued
nuclear activities in violation of its NPT obligations. Although
the IAEA report did not say that Tehran had an illegal nuclear weapons
program, it strongly condemned Iran's secret nuclear activities
and the IAEA said its investigation would continue. In response,
the international community demanded that Iran take steps to redress
concerns about its nuclear intentions, which Tehran began to meet
today by signing an Additional Protocol. This document provides
the IAEA with more measures, such as expanded inspection rights,
to make sure that Iran is not cheating on the NPT.
ACA Executive Director Daryl Kimball said Iran's signature of the
Additional Protocol is "vital but insufficient and Iran must
now promptly ratify the agreement and fully cooperate with the IAEA
in resolving questions about its past nuclear activities."
"Tehran should also maintain its suspension of uranium enrichment
activities until international concerns about its nuclear program
are resolved," added Paul Kerr, research analyst at the Arms
Control Association. Iran is legally permitted to conduct uranium
enrichment but this process can be used to develop nuclear weapons.
Even with greater transparency under the Additional Protocol and
strict compliance with the NPT, it is still possible that Iran might
someday decide to withdraw from the treaty and pursue nuclear weapons.
"In the long run, turning Iran away from nuclear weapons will
require a new and more sophisticated joint U.S.-European-Russian
strategy to reduce Iran's incentives to acquire nuclear weapons
and increase the benefits of openness and compliance," Kimball
noted. "An important element of such a strategy would be for
the United States and Israel to reassure Tehran that it does not
have to fear an attack by either country if Iran drops its pursuit
of nuclear weapons, ends its support of terrorism, and stops threatening
the existence of Israel."
"The United States should also make clear that it does not
support the possession of nuclear weapons by other countries, including
Israel, India, and Pakistan, which are not party to the NPT. Leaders
in Tehran cannot be allowed to justify their nuclear weapons ambitions
by pointing to the nuclear bomb arsenals and activities of other
countries," Kimball said.
Nevertheless, Kimball underscored that it is ultimately up to Iran
to abide by its commitments not to develop nuclear weapons and that
Tehran should not use the behavior of others as a pretext for activities
that go against its own security interests and threaten its neighbors.
# # #
The Arms Control Association is an independent, nonprofit membership
organization dedicated to promoting public understanding of and
support for effective arms control policies to address security
threats posed by nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons, as well
as conventional arms.
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