America is unwise to dismiss the Tehran deal

[FarCenter]

Friday, May 21, 2010 - Mustafa AKYOL

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=america-is-unwise-to-dismiss-the-tehran-deal-2010-05-21

Turkish diplomacy just had one of its most mind-boggling weeks. First, on Monday, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu showed up in Tehran with their Brazilian counterparts, for a “historic” deal with their Iranian hosts. After an 18-hour-long negotiation, they held hands with Iranian leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and smiled for the cameras.

The reason for the celebration was that Iran was agreeing to a “swap deal” that the United States and its allies suggested to Tehran some seven months ago. As a “confidence building measure,” 1,200 kilos of enriched Iranian uranium would be transferred to a “third country.” In return, 12 months later, nuclear fuel rods would be given to Iran in order to be used at a medical research institute in its capital.

Trust matters

Since this was almost exactly what the United States and its major allies suggested to Iran last October, Turkey and Brazil presumed that they really did a good job in terms of finding a diplomatic solution to the crisis. But, alas, only a day passed before the “major powers,” as Hillary Clinton calls them, announced that they are not impressed, and would continue to push for sanctions on Iran. The U.S., in particular, acted as if “the sincere efforts of Brazil and Turkey,” a half-hearted praise that came from Washington, had changed nothing at all.

The West’s dismissive attitude has some logic. Iranians announced that they would continue to enrich the uranium that will remain in their hands after the swap deal. (But the earlier U.S.-offered deal did not include a condition about that matter, too.) And as time has passed since October, Iran probably has more uranium now. (But Turkey was recently encouraged by none other than President Obama to push for the 1,200-kilo deal, not more.)

Turkey, and Brazil, therefore, did the right thing, and did their best. They are also right to expect from others to take a notice of this diplomatic success, before rushing for sanctions on Iran.

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