A Justified Extension for Iran Nuclear Talks, But Hard Choices Ahead

Iran and P5+1 countries – United States, Russia, China, the United Kingdom, France and Germany – are extending talks on ending Iran’s nuclear program for another four months. A “six-month halt in all significant advances in Iran's nuclear program will remain in effect, as will the modest but worthwhile lengthening of the time it would take Iran to produce enough weapons-grade uranium for a single nuclear weapon – the result of the neutralization of Tehran's entire stockpile of 20 percent enriched uranium gas,” explains Robert Einhorn in an essay for the Brookings Institution. The news will be most disappointing for Iranian citizens, he notes, as most sanctions also remain in effect. Both Iran and the international community accuse the other side of not being realistic. Trade-offs are required, and Einhorn suggests one way to end the impasse is to allow Iran limited enrichment capability for research purposes, under strict monitoring. Past violations have, however, demonstrated that Iran has a way to go before it can be trusted like Japan or other nations compliant with the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. – YaleGlobal