BY MARY FRANCIS
In November 2014, Iran and six world powers – Germany, France, Great Britain, China, Russia and the U.S., – agreed to continue nuclear negotiations. Wisely given time, those negotiations have now culminated in yet another advance toward ensuring that Iran will never produce nuclear weapons.
During an interview with Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif last fall, Zarif said, “What we need to do is to put in place mechanisms to ensure that Iran would never produce nuclear weapons. We are prepared to put those mechanisms in place.”
Those mechanisms are now being put in place.
A few key agreements from the recent diplomatic accord are:
- Iran’s centrifuges to be reduced from 19,000 to 6,104.
- Nuclear enrichment for energy and medical needs to not exceed 3.7%.
- 97% reduction in current nuclear material.
- Continuous monitoring by the IAEA of all aspects of nuclear process from mining to production to storage using the most modern, up-to-date technology.
The fact that the U.S. did not impose more sanctions has allowed multi-national talks to work and we’ve avoided a much greater likelihood of military conflict – something the American people are emphatically against. Equally important was the flexibility to extend the time needed to finalize the framework.
The steady diplomatic efforts of Iran, five other nations plus the U.S. are moving the world toward safer and more secure relations and away from war.
Once again, we have proof that, given adequate time, diplomacy works.
– Norman, OK resident Mary Francis is a founding member of Americans Against the Next War. She also is president of Voices of Oklahoma voicesofOK.org and NUUF Radio Project KVOY.org.
