Since 2003, uranium enrichment has remained at the heart of the dispute over Iran’s nuclear program between Iran and world powers, particularly the United States. Iran has argued that enrichment is its “inalienable right” under the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and that halting uranium enrichment is a “red line” that may not be crossed. Yet, the United States has opposed Iran’s position.
On Nov. 24, following four days of marathon talks, Iran and the P5+1 (the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany) finally inked the Geneva interim deal as the preamble to reaching a long-term, comprehensive solution. Shortly thereafter, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said at a news conference that “in two distinct places” there is “a very clear reference to the fact that the Iranian enrichment program will continue and will be a part of any agreement now and in the future.” Zarif was alluding to text in the Joint Plan of Action that states the final deal will involve “a mutually defined enrichment program with practical limits and transparency measures to ensure the peaceful nature of the program.”
John Kerry’s response in an interview with ABC News was, “No. There is no right to enrich. We do not recognize a right to enrich. It is clear, in the — in the NPT, in the non-proliferation treaty, it's very, very clear that there is no right to enrich.” Contrary to the assertion made by Wendy Sherman, the lead US negotiator, that this “has always been the US position,” Kerry — while serving as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee four years ago — offered a completely different understanding of the NPT. In an interview with the Financial Times, Kerry said with regard to Iran’s rights as a signatory of the NPT:
“The Bush administration [argument of] no enrichment was ridiculous … because it seemed so unreasonable to people. … It was bombastic diplomacy. It was wasted energy. It sort of hardened the lines, if you will. … They have a right to peaceful nuclear power and to enrichment in that purpose.”
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