US Energy Secretary: Rejecting Nuclear Agreement Will Damage America's Credibility

The United States Energy Secretary on Thursday provided explanations in defense of the July 14 nuclear agreement between world powers and Iran during an online video conference hosted by the North American Jewish Federation, and subsequently answered questions from some participants. Ernest Moniz, a senior member of the US delegation in the recent talks between the six world powers and Iran, outlined the technical features of the agreement aimed at blocking all pathways for Iran to access nuclear weapons, warning that rejecting the agreement would harm the unity among the members of the 1+5 group and also damage America's credibility in global diplomacy. Iran and the six world powers of the 1+5 group, which includes the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Russia, China, and Germany, reached a comprehensive final agreement to resolve Iran's nuclear issue after more than a decade of negotiations, under which restrictions will be imposed on Iran's nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of some sanctions against Iran. Mr. Moniz, who is himself a nuclear expert, explained the limitations imposed on Iran's nuclear activities through the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, stating that Iran's access to a bomb will be blocked through three methods: uranium enrichment, plutonium production, and also secret and covert methods due to extensive international monitoring. He noted that with the implementation of the Vienna agreement, in addition to reducing the amount of enriched uranium and the number of active centrifuges, halting the production and use of advanced centrifuges in Iran, and also modifying the Arak reactor, a precise and extensive mechanism will also be established for monitoring Iran's nuclear activities to ensure that Iran will not deviate from its commitments. Critics of the nuclear agreement with Iran, especially Israel, a key US ally in the region, argue that Iran cannot be trusted to fully and honestly implement the agreement, and that the influx of released funds to Iran due to the lifting of sanctions will strengthen Iran and increase its unconstructive activities in the region. The North American Jewish Federation also hosted a similar video conference last week, where Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke against the Vienna nuclear agreement and urged his audience to oppose the agreement, which he described as 'bad.' The US Energy Secretary emphasized the key role of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in inspecting Iran's facilities and verifying Iran's compliance with its commitments, stating that the agency will monitor Iran's nuclear activities extensively and continuously using advanced technology, which the US has also played a role in providing to the agency. He addressed some concerns regarding the 24-day period stipulated in the agreement for inspections of Iranian facilities if the agency feels suspicious activities have occurred, stating that they believe they will be able to detect any potential enrichment traces within that timeframe. Mr. Moniz, while acknowledging some differences with Russia, stated that all members of the 1+5 group have been united and in agreement regarding the Iranian nuclear issue and shared concerns, both during the imposition of sanctions that brought Iran to the negotiating table and throughout the negotiations that led to the agreement. He emphasized that this unity is a very key factor in achieving the goal, and that the agreement is only the beginning and must continue for years. He warned that if the agreement is rejected, both this unity and America's credibility in global diplomacy will be harmed.