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Trifecta for Diplomacy!
By maudeaster on 2016-01-20 12:06:20
If ever there was a week that testified to the value of Washington resolving
conflicts through negotiations rather than military force, last week was it! Within 4 days the US reaped 3 major benefits
from President Obama’s decision use diplomacy rather than bombs with Iran: ° Naval
conflict avoided: On Wednesday January 13th, Iran released 10 US Navy sailors less than 24 hours after their boats had
strayed into Iranian territorial waters, resolving peacefully exactly the kind of incident that has been a grave worry in the
overly crowded and overly militarized gulf. * Iran’s nuclear program constrained: On Saturday January 16th, the
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) announced that Iran had implemented all of its responsibilities under July’s
international agreement: Iran has eliminated 97% of its uranium stockpile, ripped out 2/3 of its [caption
IAEA
id="attachment_7948" align="alignright" width="176"]- © ~ IAEA Announces Iran's Successful
Implementation of Nuclear Deal[/caption] centrifuges to block a uranium path to a bomb, filled the Arak reactor with
concrete to block a plutonium path to a bomb, allowed for continuous monitoring and inspector access to key nuclear sites,
and provided the IAEA information needed to assess the past possible military dimensions of its nuclear program. *
Prisoner swap frees Americans from Iranian prison: Also on Saturday the 16th, fourteen months of negotiations
culminated in the release by Iran of 4 Iranian-Americans who had been imprisoned in Tehran, in exchange for clemency for
[caption id="attachment_7949" align="alignright" width="210"] US Journalist Rezaian
Released[/caption] 7 Iranians (6 of whom were Iranian-Americans) who had been convicted of breaking US-imposed
economic sanctions. Iran also released another American not as part of this prisoner exchange. The reason diplomacy works
is that paths are found that allow all parties gain from the agreements reached. So Iran also benefited last week: return of the
US sailors, speedy completion of nuclear dismantlement and release of US prisoners all supported Iran’s desire to be re-
position itself as a responsible international partner. In return for its nuclear constraints, Iran was also relieved of most of the
sanctions that have been isolating its economy. Iranian funds which had been impounded during sanctions were restored,
and Washington repaid a US debt for military equipment purchased by the Iranians decades ago, but never supplied. Wise
diplomats also look to the long term in negotiations, agreeing to trade-offs that create potential for future benefits. Crafting
the nuclear agreement seems likely to have been the key that unlocked cooperation on the release of the straying sailors and
the imprisoned Americans. But, in addition, lifting sanctions has restored Iran to the international economy, with countries
around the world poised to strengthen investment and trade, all of which will have the potential to foster a more open Iranian
ie
Uzbekistan
span Turkmenistan
L}. Tehran
Afghanistan
IRAN
Kuwait Pakistan
Saudi Arabia
society and greater cooperation in the region’s desperately needed peace- making. Iran is a
key player in negotiations on Syria and Yemen, Iran’s help is critical in containing the Islamic State and cooperation with
Iran is necessary to bring stability to Iraq. Eyes now turn to another potential gain. As a January 18th_New York Times
editorial pointed out, having seen the multiple benefits of effective diplomacy with Iran, President Obama has a year left in
which he can apply the same approach to denuclearizing North Korea. Washington has prevented Korea talks from resuming
by insisting that North Korea commit to giving up its weapons program before talks even begin. Why would any country
want to give up its biggest bargaining chip before sitting down to negotiate? As Joe Cirincione, author of Nuclear
Nightmares: Securing the World Before It is Too Late, discussed in an interesting Democracy Now interview, North
orea’s recent bomb test has shown that the US strategy so far is not working. “It may jolt China
and the United States to finally cooperate in a realistic and sincere effort to once again get North Korea back to the
negotiating table, drop the preconditions the U.S. has set on these talks, get North Korea to drop its preconditions, and put
together the kind of combination of pressures and incentives we saw work so well with Iran.” Please join me in telling
President Obama that we want the US to apply the good lessons from Iran and get back to the negotiating table with North
Korea: Sign this petition.
