Efforts to Resolve the 'PMD' Issue; One of the Keys to Implementing the Nuclear Agreement

Although these days, diplomats from Iran and the 5+1 group, as well as critics of the negotiations, frequently discuss terms like inspection, access, or interview, less attention is paid to the underlying reasons. These terms relate to a very sensitive issue in Iran's nuclear file at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); Iran's previous actions that may have military aspects, referred to as 'PMD' (Possible Military Dimensions), which is currently a contentious issue on the negotiation table. PMD has been a point of contention between Iran and the IAEA for years. In the latest remarks on this topic, Reza Najafi, Iran's representative at the IAEA, assessed the continuation of discussions on this matter as a sign of the 'ineffectiveness' of this section of the agency's report. Over the years, Iran and this international body have conducted negotiations parallel to Tehran's talks with global powers. In December 2013, Iran and the IAEA agreed on a work plan under which the agency's questions to Iran would be answered based on this work plan. For several months, two of the agency's questions have become contentious, and at one point, the process of bilateral cooperation was somewhat suspended. These questions relate to 'neutron transport' and 'modeling and related calculations and their alleged use in compressed materials.' However, with the release of the latest quarterly report from the IAEA Director General regarding Iran's nuclear program, a knowledgeable diplomat told Reuters that 'Iran has provided the agency with information on one of these two topics (computer modeling), which this diplomat described as 'useful' but 'limited.' The resolution of the 'Possible Military Dimensions' issue does not mean the confirmation of the peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear program. Yukiya Amano, the Director General of the IAEA, has repeatedly emphasized that a complete and comprehensive confirmation of Iran's nuclear program will require a longer time, which could occur during the implementation of the comprehensive agreement. However, the resolution of concerns regarding Iran's past actions becomes significant when referring to the fact sheet issued by the United States after the Lausanne understanding. According to the U.S. fact sheet, addressing the 'Possible Military Dimensions' issue, alongside matters such as enrichment scope, the Fordow and Arak facilities, and transparency, is listed as one of the conditions for lifting the United Nations Security Council sanctions. In recent weeks, Iranian negotiators have repeatedly emphasized their demand for the immediate lifting of these sanctions through the approval of a new resolution in the Security Council. The opposing side has also stressed that these sanctions will be lifted in response to Iran's confidence-building measures. Following the understanding reached in Lausanne, Hamid Baidi-Nejad, one of the Iranian negotiators, stated in an interview that if this agreement is reached, both sides will need several weeks to prepare for the implementation stages of the agreement. Mr. Baidi-Nejad used the example of a landlord preparing a house for a tenant, saying, 'For instance, on July 21, Iran will carry out its actions, and the agency will confirm the implementation of these actions, meaning the confirmation of the same actions that Iran is taking, and the opposing side will also carry out its actions on that same day, July 21.' In this conversation, although he does not directly refer to the 'Possible Military Dimensions' issue, he states that the agency's confirmation of Iran's actions does not imply the confirmation of the peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear program but only encompasses Iran's actions. These actions include limiting the percentage of uranium enrichment, reducing the number of active centrifuges, and resolving the 'Possible Military Dimensions' of Iran's past activities, as stated in the U.S. fact sheet. However, the current challenge for negotiators at the table, whether in Vienna or Geneva, is how to reach a 'common ground' to resolve the 'Possible Military Dimensions' issue, given the strong opposition in Tehran regarding access to military sites and discussions with nuclear scientists. Analysts consulted by Radio Farda believe that it is unlikely that the parties will be able to fully resolve this issue within the remaining time, considering the red lines; however, a compromise between the two sides and finding solutions for even a partial resolution of this issue could be one of the vital keys to implementing the comprehensive agreement that Iran and the 5+1 group could reach within a month.