Nuclear Negotiations; Iran and World Powers Reach Agreement in Lausanne

Iran and the world powers negotiating over Tehran's nuclear program reached an agreement on April 2, after eight days of talks in Lausanne, Switzerland, regarding the framework for a nuclear deal. Following this initial agreement, Iran and six other countries— the United States, China, Germany, France, Britain, and Russia— have until the end of June to finalize the agreement. This final agreement could potentially end 12 years of disputes over Tehran's nuclear program. The core of the initial agreement is to find a way to objectively prove the peaceful nature of Tehran's nuclear program, which would lead to the lifting of sanctions against Iran. The parties will continue to work and negotiate on the precise details of the final agreement. However, what is now clear regarding Iran includes accepting limited uranium enrichment only at the Natanz facility, converting the Fordow site into a research center, redesigning the Arak heavy water reactor internationally, transferring inactive centrifuges to storage, reducing uranium stockpiles, and regular monitoring by the International Atomic Energy Agency. In return, Security Council resolutions against Iran are to be lifted, and EU and US sanctions will also come to an end. In this regard, John Kerry, the US Secretary of State, emphasized that if Tehran does not act according to the agreement, sanctions will be reimposed. The US Secretary of State stated that the agreement reached provides a solid foundation for a good deal that they are pursuing. He described the day of the agreement in Lausanne, April 2, as a 'great day.' Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran's Foreign Minister, also stated at a press conference at the Polytechnic University of Lausanne that Iran has never wanted to turn its back on the international community and always considers itself part of it, making it vital for the country to take steps to build trust regarding the peaceful nature of its nuclear activities. The official news agency of the Islamic Republic quoted him upon his return to Tehran, stating that 'the solutions anticipated in the final statement of Lausanne will, God willing, be completed by July.' Among other foreign ministers involved in the negotiations, Laurent Fabius, the French Foreign Minister, said the agreement is a positive step, but there are still questions that need to be answered. His Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, described the Lausanne agreement as a clear sign that the most difficult issues and critical conditions can be resolved through political and diplomatic efforts. The UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, also welcomed the Lausanne agreement. His spokesperson quoted Mr. Ban in a statement saying, 'A comprehensive and discussed solution regarding Iran's nuclear program will contribute to peace and stability in the region and provide an opportunity for all countries in the world to cooperate immediately to eliminate many serious problems they face.' Among the critics of the nuclear negotiations, John Boehner, the Speaker of the US House of Representatives, called the agreement reached a 'diversion' from the original goals of the negotiations and described it as 'concerning.' Reuters quoted Mr. Boehner as saying that in the coming weeks, Republicans and Democrats in Congress will pressure the US government regarding the details of this agreement and the questions that 'still exist.' Yuval Steinitz, Israel's Minister of Intelligence and Strategic Affairs, also stated that the smiles in Lausanne have nothing to do with Iran's refusal to concede on its nuclear issues and its continued threats against Israel and other countries in the Middle East. Hossein Shariatmadari, the editor-in-chief of Kayhan newspaper, said, 'In one word, we must say that we have given a saddled horse and received a torn bridle in return.' Following the initial agreement reached in Lausanne, Barack Obama, the President of the United States, described it as 'historic' in a televised speech that was also broadcast live in Iran, asking, 'Is this verifiable agreement supported by world powers worse than war in the Middle East?' On the evening of April 2, with the agreement reached in Lausanne, a group of Iranian citizens celebrated and rejoiced. Iranian citizens shared images on social media from Barack Obama's speech, which was broadcast by Iranian television. Images were also released showing a group of people in front of the Foreign Ministry building. International news networks also published videos and images of people celebrating in the streets.