1.
Shaikh: President Obama appeared before
reporters at the White House Wednesday to defend the global agreement to
curtail Iran’s nuclear program. Negotiations were led by the U.S., Britain,
France, China, Russia and Germany. Critics of the deal have accused the White
House of appeasement, but Obama challenged his critics to come up with a better
solution, saying 99 percent of the world and the majority of nuclear experts
agree that the deal will prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
2.
Obama: If 99 percent of the world community
and the majority of nuclear experts look at this thing and they say, “This will
prevent Iran from getting a nuclear bomb,” and you are arguing either that it
does not or that, even if it does, it’s temporary, or that because they’re
going to get a windfall of their accounts being unfrozen, that they’ll cause
more problems, then you should have some alternative to present. And I haven’t
heard that. And the reason is because there really are only two alternatives
here: Either the issue of Iran obtaining a nuclear weapon is resolved
diplomatically through a negotiation, or it’s resolved through force, through
war. Those are—those are the options.
3.
Shaikh: The agreement reached Tuesday will
see Iran reduce its stockpile of low-enriched uranium by 98 percent and cut its
number of centrifuges by two-thirds. In exchange, Iran will see an easing of
international sanctions that have battered the economy, causing food insecurity
and medication shortages. Congress will have 60 days to review the deal.
President Obama has vowed to veto any attempt to block the agreement through
legislation. Congress would need a two-thirds majority in both chambers to
override a veto, meaning Obama only needs 34 votes to keep the deal secure.
4.
Goodman: In Iran, residents poured out into
the streets to celebrate the agreement, which many hope will help lead to a
normalization of ties with the West. To talk more about the implications of
the deal, we go now to Princeton University to talk to Ambassador Seyed Hossein
Mousavian. He’s an associate research scholar at
Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International
Affairs, [Noshit?] former diplomat who, from 1990 to 1997, served as Iran’s
ambassador to Germany. From ‘97 to 2005, he was head of the Foreign Relations
Committee of Iran’s National Security Council. And from 2003 to 2005, he served
as spokesman for Iran in its nuclear negotiations with the European Union. He’s
the author of The Iranian Nuclear Crisis: A Memoir and,
most recently, Iran and the United States: An Insider’s View on the Failed Past and
the Road to Peace. Welcome to Democracy Now!, Ambassador. Do you think
this agreement is a road to peace? What do you think is most important about
it?
5.
SeyedHosseinMousavian: I’m confident this
agreement is a road to peace. The big issue, as President Obama said, the
agreement prevented a war, could be disaster for the U.S., for Iran, for the
region and for international community. Second, the
deal has closed all possible pathways toward possible militarization,
weaponization of Iranian nuclear program. The
U.S. and the West, they were worried if Iranian nuclear program in the future
would divert toward weaponization. That’s why President Obama’s red line was
zero nuclear bomb, no nuclear bomb. This red line was welcomed in Tehran very
much, because Iranians, they believe and they were reiterating they have never
been after nuclear bomb, and they would be ready to give every assurances that
the Iranian nuclear program will remain peaceful forever. After 23
months of tough negotiations, they have finalized 159 pages, which would cover
the American red line, which is no nuclear bomb. We
have heavy water facility in Arak. Iran has accepted to have no
reprocessing at heavy water for a long period. As long as you have no
reprocessing, it’s impossible to make nuclear bomb from heavy water facility.
Moreover, as a goodwill, Iran has accepted to reduce the production of
plutonium from 10 kilogram per year, the current capacity, to below one kilogram,
because if you are doing reprocessing, you would need 10 kilogram plutonium to
produce a nuclear bomb. Then, when Iran is reducing less than one kilogram per
year, this would be a double guarantee that Iran would never be after nuclear
weapon from heavy water facility. Again, another confidence-building measure,
Iran has agreed to spent fuel—to export spent fuel from heavy water. Even if
you have 10 kilogram plutonium, even if you are reprocessing, when you export
the spent fuel, it’s impossible to make nuclear bomb. Therefore, all possible
measures have been agreed to secure no nuclear weapon from heavy water. Then we go to enrichment facility. Iran has agreed to
enrich below 5 percent. To make nuclear bomb from enrichment facility, you need
to enrich above 90 percent. As long as you are enriching below 5 percent, it’s
impossible to make nuclear bomb. Second, Iran has agreed to decrease the 10,000
kilogram of the current stockpile to 300 kilogram for just domestic needs. And
Iran has agreed to convert the second enrichment site, Fordow, to R&D
center, not enrichment site. And also, two-third of centrifuges would be
decreased for at least a period of 10 years as a confidence-building measures.
Therefore—on the transparency also, Iran has agreed to all protocols,
arrangements at the maximum level within the international rules and
regulations, which is safeguard agreement, which is subsidiary arrangement Code
3.1, and, finally, is additional protocol. Internationally, on transparency and
inspection, we don’t have anything more; Iran has accepted all three.
Therefore, Iran would be the most transparent nation on its nuclear program.
And Iran has given the confidence-building measures, has accepted measures
which no other member of NPT has ever accepted to yet, like enriching below 5
percent, like what already I explained for you. That’s why I believe the deal
is a win deal for Washington. Then we go to Iran. I
believe the deal also is a win deal for Iran, because Iranians, they were
telling Americans, “Look, if you want to close all pathway to nuclear bomb,
welcome. We are with you. We have no problem to give you any assurances. But
we—our red line is our legitimate rights under international rule,
Non-Proliferation Treaty, to enjoy peaceful nuclear technology. We don’t want
anything beyond.” And Iranians, they got it. And second red line of Iranians
would—was lifting the sanctions. Also they got their second red line.
Therefore, this is a win-win deal. And I believe this could be really a model. This could be useful
far, far beyond Iranian nuclear issue, because if the world powers, if the
opponents in the region, they use the Iranian model for all countries in the
Middle East, this would be the only way to assure nuclear weapon-free zone in
the Middle East. If every country accept the same measures, we would never have
nuclear bomb in Middle East. And finally, I would say, definitely, the deal
would decrease tension between Iran and the U.S., definitely. Definitely, the
deal would help improving Iran-U.S. relations. Iran and the U.S. now succeeding
one big negotiations, they would be able to have dialogue on regional issues,
fighting terrorism and extremism in the region.
6.
Shaikh: Ambassador
Mousavian, could you explain why the negotiations failed in the past over so
many years? Was it the sanctions regime that enabled the agreement to come to a
close now, the sanctions that have been imposed on Iran?
7.
SeyedHosseinMousavian: See, it was the U.S.
conventional understanding that if they put sanctions, Iranians, they would
give up the nuclear program. That’s why they referred Iranian nuclear file in
2006 to United Nations Security Council, and they imposed six resolutions with
draconian sanctions. And Europeans also, they went beyond United Nations Security
Council sanctions: They imposed sanctions on central bank and oil, unilateral
sanctions, multilateral sanctions, U.N. sanctions, since 2006. Then,
they all believed Iran would give up. But sanctions pushed Iran to increase its
nuclear capacity. Before sanctions, Iranians, they had a few hundred
centrifuges; after sanctions, 22,000 centrifuges. Before sanctions, Iranians,
they were enriching below 5 percent; after sanctions, they were enriching to 20
percent. Before sanctions, Iranians, they were working with one model of
centrifuges; after sanctions, eight models of centrifuges, extremely developed
centrifuges, during the sanction period. And then, suddenly, the U.S. opened
its eyes and saw Iran has just three months to break out. And definitely, they
would resist sanctions for more three months, even more three years, but they
would pass the breakout. And then the U.S. would have to negotiate with Iran
after breakout, which would have to give a lot of concessions. Here, the U.S.
and the world powers, they understood the sanctions have been completely
counterproductive. The sanctions pushed Iran toward expanding enormously its
nuclear program. That’s why they came to negotiate. This
was number one. Number two, if you look at the principles agreed July
14th, 2015, you would see this is exactly the same principles we proposed EU3,
which that time they were our interlocutors, in March 2005, during President
Khatami, when I was a spokesperson of nuclear file of Iran. The same principles
before sanctions, we gave to Europeans. But Europeans, they could not make a
deal with us, because the U.S. position was zero enrichment. Iranians, they
were saying, Iran cannot have enrichment. Iran should be the only member of
NPT, Non-Proliferation Treaty, to be singled out, to be discriminized, not to
have this right. And Iranians definitely were not ready to accept. This was
practically the two reasons we could not make the deal. And exactly these are
the two reasons we could make the deal just some days ago.
8.
Goodman: Ambassador, South Carolina senator, the
Republican presidential candidate, Lindsey Graham, to say the least, has
criticized the Iran nuclear deal, saying it’s tantamount to funding the Assad
regime, Hamas and Hezbollah. Graham was speaking on the Today show on NBC.
9.
Graham: Well, when the Iranians tell you this
is a win-win, it’s probably not. My biggest problem is it would take in the
largest state sponsor of terrorism, the people who overran our embassy, who
killed hundreds of Americans. We’ve given them billions of dollars, and they
can use the money any way they would like. You might as well write a check to
Assad, Hezbollah, Hamas, because that’s where the money’s going. We’re going to
give them more weapons at the passage of five years, regardless if they change
their behavior. We took a very dismantled approach to their nuclear program and
ensured they’re on the path to become a member of the nuclear club. And Arabs
are going to go get their own weapon. You’re creating a nuclear arms race. You’re
infusing the largest state sponsor of terrorism with more money and more
weapons. Not a good deal.
10.
Goodman: So, Ambassador, if you could respond to
this? This is tantamount to funding the Assad regime,
Hamas and Hezbollah. This matters because right now this global agreement, the
agreement with all of the countries, not just the United States, goes to
Congress and has to be approved. President Obama has vowed to veto, if they
don’t.
11.
SeyedHosseinMousavian: The argument of
Senator Graham and other senators opposing the deal and Prime Minister
Netanyahu and some Arab allies of the U.S. is that the deal would strengthen,
empower Iranians to increase their regional hegemony and aggression and
invasion. This is the argument they make. Let’s to be realistic and sincere to the public opinion.
[Good luck with that.] In last five decades, Israel has invaded six
times its neighbors. Saudi Arabia, in last five, six years, has invaded
militarily two countries: Bahrain and Yemen. United States of America, in last 15 years,
has invaded twice: One has attacked Afghanistan, and one has attacked—once has
attacked Iraq. And NATO, which the U.S. also participated, Arab allies
participated, they attacked Libya. All these military invasions have
created the region today we see. They have made the region completely unstable.
Some countries, they have collapsed. Some countries are at the verge of
collapse. Terrorists have been spread all over the region. Iranians, during the last 200 years, have never invaded any
country. And Iranians, they are the only country in the region which they were
attacked, invaded by Arabs. Saddam Hussein invaded Iran in 1980, for eight
years killing, injuring over a million Iranians. Iranians are the only country
after Second World War have been bombarded by chemical weapons. Saddam used
chemical weapons. The United States of America, unfortunately, the Europeans,
they provided material and technology for Saddam Hussein to use weapons of mass
destruction against Iranians, chemical weapons, killing and injuring 100,000
Iranians. Now Iran is blamed. Who did all these aggressions? Who made
the region a mess? It was not really Iran. Iran is helping Iraq to fight ISIS.
It is true. Iran has been invited by Iraqi government to help, because no other
country is ready to help by military in ground. Iran is helping, is the biggest
country, the most important country, helping Iraq to fight ISIS in Iraq and in
Syria. Who are funding this ISIS, these terrorists? They are U.S. allies in the
region. Vice President Joe Biden said last year,
very clearly, in Harvard, that our main problem in the region are our own
allies. They are funding terrorists. They are giving weapon to
terrorists. It was stated officially by the vice president of the U.S.
Therefore, why Iran should be blamed because of hegemony, because of invasion
of other countries? We can see the record of the U.S., Arab allies in the
region, Israelis, invading frequently, creating wars. And Iranians, in the last
two centuries, have never invaded any country. Therefore, I really believe that
totally the argument is baseless and is misleading the public opinion. American
public opinion, they know very well American invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan
cost them trillions of dollars, thousands of American lives, and caused such a
mess in the region.
12.
Shaikh: Ambassador Mousavian—
13.
SeyedHosseinMousavian: Iran should not be
blamed for such a situation.
14.
Shaikh: Ambassador
Mousavian, I think one of the criticisms that has been leveled against Iran has
to do with the extent of its support for the Assad regime. Even the U.N. envoy
to Syria last year said that Iran provides up to $6 billion a year to Syria. So
could you respond to that?
15.
SeyedHosseinMousavian: Look, the stability and
integrity of Syria is threatened by ISIS. They are now taking over about half
of Syria. And if Assad collapse, the alternative is ISIS. Joe Biden was right
that the U.S. allies made a big mistake to support the terrorists to fight
Assad, because they have created such a situation in Syria. We should think:
Assad is better, or ISIS?
16.
Goodman: Let me—
17.
SeyedHosseinMousavian: Iranians, they believe
Assad is better than ISIS. Iranians, they believe they should support Assad to
fight ISIS. This is exactly what they are doing in Iraq. They are helping Iraqi
government to fight ISIS. I believe the U.S., international community, they
should join Iran to help Assad to fight ISIS, to clean Syria from terrorists,
then find a peaceful transitional solution for resolving the Syrian crisis—
18.
Goodman: Ambassador Mousavian, we only have—
19.
SeyedHosseinMousavian: —to have a free election.
20.
Goodman: We only have 30
seconds, but I wanted to ask you one question that seems to be a major
misunderstanding in the United States, and it’s about the money that Iran gets
with the lifting of the sanctions. It’s often referred to as: “Why should we
give them this money?” Explain what the money is.
21.
SeyedHosseinMousavian: The money definitely
would go for Iranian economy. Iran desperately needs the money for developing
its economy.
22.
Goodman: But where is the money coming from?
23.
SeyedHosseinMousavian: The money is, first, from
the blocked Iranian assets. These are Iranian assets.
24.
Goodman: So this is the sale, for example, of
Iranian oil.
25.
SeyedHosseinMousavian: Iranian oil would—after
six months, they would be able to increase. Definitely, the deal would help
Iranian economy. No doubt. But believe me, Iranians, they would use every
dollar—this government, which I know them, they would use every dollar to
develop their economy, because after 35 years—
26.
Goodman: So this isn’t aid from other countries
to Iran, is my point. This is Iran’s money.
27.
SeyedHosseinMousavian: This is Iranian money,
definitely. This is their own money, which would be released. However, when
they lift the sanctions, of course, Iranian economy would function much better.
28.
Goodman: Well, Ambassador Seyed Hossein
Mousavian, we thank you so much for being with us. Of course, we’re going to
continue to follow this as the controversy builds in Congress right now.
Ambassador Mousavian is now an associate research scholar at Princeton
University’s Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, former
diplomat who served as Iran’s ambassador to Germany and was head of the Foreign
Relations Committee of Iran’s National Security Council, serving as spokesman
for Iran in its nuclear negotiations with the European Union. His book, The Iranian Nuclear Crisis,
as well as Iran and the United States. This is
Democracy Now! When we come back, we go to south to Texas. Stay with us.
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