10 Iran Nuclear Deal Facts - WMNews Ep. 22
While it's undoubtedly groundbreaking, the nuclear framework deal that has been reached between the West and Iran is also controversial due to the safety concerns Iran's nuclear ambitions may potentially introduce into world relations.Welcome to WatchMojo News, the weekly series from http://www.WatchMojo.com that breaks down news stories that might be on your radar. In this instalment, we're counting down 10 crucial Iran nuclear framework facts.
10 Iran Nuclear Framework Facts - WMNews Ep. 22
#10: How Did Iran Come to Be? The History
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Iran, known officially as the Islamic Republic of Iran and culturally as Persia, is one of the world’s oldest civilizations as it can trace back its foundations to 3200-3800 BC. Home to over 78 million people, Iran has the second largest population in the Middle East after Egypt. Furthermore, its population comprises multiple ethnic and religious groups, with Farsi being the official language and Shia Islam the official religion. As of 2015, Iran has been under a distinctive political system dating back to its 1979 constitution known as an Islamic Republic, which blends religion and democracy, with its religious Supreme leader having a sizable authority on political decisions.
#9: What is Iran's Position in the World? The Threat
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Iran has the Middle East’s second largest economy, with an estimated GDP of 366 billion between 2013-2014. Geographically, Iran holds a unique position in the Middle East, as its location is of importance within Eurasia and Western Asia as well as to the Strait of Hormuz, which is the only sea passage between the Persian Gulf and the open ocean, a historically significant choke point. Politically, Iran has had incredibly hostile and strained relations with many countries, notably the United States, Israel, and close neighbor Saudi Arabia. Ever since the late ‘70s, Iran has long been accused by the West of sponsoring terrorist activities abroad and trying to extend its influence; as such, the specter of a nuclear-armed Iran does little to reassure Western governments.
#8: How are Relations Between the U.S. and Iran? The One-Time-Friend-Turned-Foe
The tenuous and fraught relationship between the Western superpower and the Middle East’s nuclear energy powerhouse can be traced back to 1953, when the United States’ CIA aided the United Kingdom in overthrowing Mohammad Mossaddegh, the first democratically elected Prime Minister of Iran. Mossaddegh had been in the process of nationalizing Iran’s oil production, as the country was one of the world’s major producers of the resources at the time, but only received 15% of the profit, while the UK received the remainder. Prior to this occurrence, the relationship between both countries was relatively free of strife or threat. But since the 1950s, when the Shah began his regime, Iran has never forgiven the intervention of the United States. Following the 1979 Islamic Revolution, the Shah fled the country to the U.S. When the U.S. refused to return him back to the country, Iranian students stormed the American embassy in Tehran and took 52 diplomats hostage. Though none of the hostages were harmed, that incident, in turn, left a bitter taste in America's mouth as they believed Iran violated the principle of international law, which grants diplomats immunity. Tensions between the two countries were further exasperated with the 1988 shoot down of a commercial Iranian Airbus by the USS Vincennes, killing all 290 passengers and crew members. The United States never formally apologized to Iran, although a settlement was reached in 1996 that saw the U.S. pay a 61.8 million dollar settlement to the families of the deceased. The previous year, the United States placed a trade embargo on Iran, and ever since, there has been an uneasy truce between the two nations as both have access to nuclear energy.
#7: What is the Current Government of Iran? The Lawmaker
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The government of Iran has four main office holders who control various sections; the two that hold the strongest positions are the Supreme Leader and the President. The Supreme Leader is the most powerful position within the government, as it appoints those in charge of powerful departments such as the commander of the military forces. Following the Iranian Revolution and the death of Ruhollah Khomeini, the Assembly of Experts elected Ali Khamenei as Iran’s Supreme Leader in June 1989. This Shia Cleric has allegedly publicly opposed nuclear weapons on account of Islam in the form of a fatwa, though its existence is debated. The President is the second most powerful position and is elected by the people of Iran. Hassan Rouhani assumed office of the President in August 2013 following a landslide victory in which he garnered support from both those in favor of policy reform and religious Iranians. Named by TIME magazine as one of the world’s most influential people, Rouhani is seen by many as a moderate politician. Since taking office he has worked on improving many issues including women’s rights, building the economy, removing Internet censorship and strained foreign relations.
#6: What is the Nuclear Program of Iran? The Energy
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The U.S. helped launch Iran’s nuclear program in the 1950s within another program called Atoms for Peace. This American program saw previously secretive nuclear information and technology become accessible to different civilians and countries. Following the Iranian Revolution in 1979 and the subsequent overthrowing of the Shah, Iran’s nuclear program evolved to include uranium enrichment plants, uranium mines and processing facilities - all of which Iran has stated is solely for peaceful purposes such as electricity and medical isotopes. In fact, Iran plans to ramp up production of electricity through nuclear facilities by 2025 in order to meet its ever increasing demand.
#5: What is the Iran Nuclear Deal Framework? The Deal
The Iran nuclear deal framework was reached in Lausanne, Switzerland in late March and early April 2015 following high-powered negotiations. Attended by the foreign ministers of the United States, the United Kingdom, Russia, Germany, France, China, the European Union and Iran, these talks centered on Iran’s continually controversial nuclear activities. At the end of the discussions, an announcement stated all participating nations had reached an agreement regarding a framework and that all final decisions have to be made by June 30th, 2015. The outlined deal touched on various hot button issues, such as the reduction of Iran’s nuclear facilities and production, the removal of economic sanctions against Iran, and the enhanced and unprecedented investigations of Iran’s nuclear facilities – all while Iran denies intentions that it’s attempting to build a nuclear weapon.
#4: Who Opposes the Deal Framework? The Opposition
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One of the fiercest opponents of the nuclear framework deal is nuclear power Israel. Its leadership has perennially threatened unilateral strikes on Iran, despite the fact that Iran is home to a large Jewish community. Either way, Israel sees the concessions granted by the west as dangerous, and as such is requesting tougher demands, such as the end of Iran’s research and development of advanced centrifuges, and unlimited “anywhere, anytime” inspections by international monitors. Conservative hardliners in the United States are also wary of the terms and as such are pressing for a vote in the U.S. Congress on the nuclear agreement. If the vote passes, it would prevent President Barack Obama from stopping sanctions on Iran for the duration of a congressional review. And if it receives enough votes, the bill could also override a possible veto by Obama.
#3: How Would the Deal Benefit Iran? The Removal of Sanctions
For the first time in recent memory, it seems as though Iran’s conservative hardliners are out of step with the government. Senior officials, lawmakers and even Iran’s military, the Revolutionary Guard, have praised the nuclear framework deal and the government of President Rouhani. For the deal would benefit Iran by removing American and European sanctions and help thaw the country’s decade-long isolation from the West, which has led to political tensions and a badly injured Iranian economy.
#2: How Would the Deal Benefit the World? The Transparency
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The benefits of [a] greater Iranian transparency would be immeasurable to the world, with the framework deal outlining the varied steps that Iran must take into order to have western sanctions removed. The deal would also give the IAEA, the International Atomic Energy Agency, unprecedented access to Iran’s nuclear facilities as well as make it in charge of verifying Iran’s nuclear commitments. These would mainly be Iran scaling back their nuclear enrichment programs, and not build further enrichment facilities. Furthermore, Iran has accepted to turn Fordow, an underground uranium enrichment facility, into a center for scientific research.
#1: Will Iran Follow Through on the Framework Agreement? The Outcome
Following the announcement of the nuclear deal framework, the United States and Iran published separate fact sheets outlining the details of the agreement, and with different emphases on certain aspects. Yet some have questioned the viability of such a deal. While Iran has stated that sanctions would be removed as soon as the agreement is officially signed, the U.S. has stated the opposite; that sanction removal would occur in phases and only after verification that Iran has fulfilled its commitments. Nevertheless, this landmark framework agreement has been touted by President Obama as a “once in a lifetime opportunity” to curtail Iran’s nuclear ambitions and to garner added security in the Middle East. The commitments made in the agreement have yet to be enshrined, but with the June 30th, 2015 deadline fast approaching, it’s anyone’s guess as to whether or not all parties will remain committed.
