IRAN MEETS P5+1 NATIONS AT VIENNA ON THE SIDELINES OF IAEA CONFERENCE

With Hassan Rouhani assuming power in Iran, of course with the blessings of Iran’s Supreme Head Ayatollah Ali Khameini, none was sure that Iran-US relationship would undergo a sea-change within a short period. Even US must have felt that the policy followed by Mr.Rouhani’s predecessor Mahmood Ahmedi Nejad who was a bitter critic of US would go on unchanged on the issue of nuclear enrichment. Contrary to US’s calculations, Mr.Rouhani, known world-wide as a moderate leader, wanted to establish warm and cordial relations with US and with that purpose in mind, he got in touch with US President Barack Obama over phone and made known his desire to discuss and debate the issue of scaling down Nuclear Enrichment from 20 percent to five percent. A visibly delighted Obama agreed to contact him after holding talks with the leaders of Britain, France, Russia and China, all permanent members of UN Security Council and Germany.

And as a first step in the right direction all got together at Geneva and indulged in serious talks with the foreign minister of Iran, Javad Zarif decided to bring down nuclear enrichment from 20% to 5% following which the P5+1 countries decided to lift sanctions partially, imposed on Iran when Mr.Ahmedi Nejad was in the chair. The partial lifting of sanctions was a breather for Iran which badly needed.

Iran agreed for an inspection by IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) and following which IAEA members flew to Iran and conducted inspections at Iran’s nuclear sites so as to ensure that Iran kept its promise of scaling down nuclear enrichment from 20 percent to five percent and that it was not desirous of entertaining a plan to develop nuclear weapons. Yukio Amano, Chairman, IAEA informed the P5+1 nations about its verifications - upon addressing a Press Conference.

On the sidelines of an IAEA Conference at Vienna, Austrian Capital,Foreign Minister of Iran, Javad Zarif flew to Vienna to hold talks with the five permanent nations plus Germany which began on Wednesday lasting for three days.

The IAEA meeting is being attended by 35 members at Vienna, Austria from Wednesday to Friday.

Fun is that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on a visit to United States expressed his concerns of Iran developing nuclear weapons and in the event of Iran developing nuclear bombs Israel is feared to be its first target. Israel still nurses fears about Iran assembling nuclear weapons with the one and only purpose of launching them aiming Israel. Even US or for that matter its allies never nurture that fear or concern as of now.

Israel which is on a perennial conflict with Palestine, the genesis of which dates back to 1948, more than six decades, still considers Palestine its enemy.

Mr.Obama on a meeting with Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Prime Minister, the other day made his position clear to Netanyahu that Israel should take tough decisions to bury the hatchet between it and Palestine. Mr.Netanyahu, a hawk, retorted in no uncertain terms that seven rounds of talks have already been held and the last round is to be held in April.

In this connection what Mr.Netanyahu had to open his mind was Iran’s plans of developing nuclear weapons. Though other nations take Iran’s assurance for granted, Israel still makes known its fears public. Mr.Netanyahu’s concern is in case Iran evolves into a nuclear power its first target is none other than Israel since Iran shares warm relations with Palestine.

It is everyone’s conviction that the Vienna talks between Iran and P5+1 nations would turn for the better and Iran could very well expect further lifting of sanctions.