Deal for Iran Reached

By Matt for the TIB Network:

The Wmd Mailbag Correspondent alerts us to this piece in the EUobserver:

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is today set to announce an agreement with the Europeans on how to tackle the dispute with Iran over its nuclear programme.

The US has for the first time agreed to offer economic incentives to persuade Iran to abandon any effort to build nuclear weapons.

Iran would be allowed to buy vital parts for flight engines and American-made avionic equipment as part of the deal.

The Americans have also accepted to support Iran's entry into the World Trade Organisation in return for Iran halting its nuclear programme, according to senior American officials quoted by US media.

The EU in return has accepted to take the Iranian issue to the UN Security Council should negotiations with Tehran fail, according to the New York Times.

A few problems I see with this "deal":

There is no guarantee that Europe won't interfere with the UN Security Council vote like they did with the Iraq situation. Although, there isn't any Oil-for-Food cash stuffing Europe's pockets this time, so maybe the outcome will be different.

The President's position on this was right: rewarding Iran for not complying with their obligations is a bad move that signals other would-be rogue nations that it's okay to break their word too. In the end though, I think a dimplomatic solution is best for the Iran situation...and that means a little give and take. My fear, though, is that this will come back to haunt us in a very big way.

We'll just have to wait and see...

Mark's Remarks

My fear is that this will turn into another North Korea if the United States takes a less forward leadership role in the inspection or enforcement process of any agreement....And Matt, there could be an Oil for Nukes program that could lead to cash stuffing for the UN...God knows they love that Mid East Oil Money!!!

Seriously, as a peace-loving American, I would love to see a diplomatic solution work. However, in international nuke relations, I live by Ronald Reagan's axiom with the Soviets, "trust, but verify." If we leave the verification to the UN or the IAEA, we cannot trust the results....the past has shown that to be the case, ie, North Korea, ie, the fact that Iran managed to get this far with the IAEA supposedly being on the case....

Islamofascism Delenda Est!