Have the U.S. and Iran made concessions on the nuclear issue and frozen assets? Be alert for a reversal.
The core disagreement between the two sides is Iran’s enriched uranium.
Trump would never allow Iran to dilute this enriched uranium domestically.
On the surface, Trump wants a better deal than the one Obama struck. Back then, Iran handed its enriched uranium over to a third party—in other words, Russia. If Iran were allowed to dilute it domestically, how would that make Trump look? Even handing it over to a third country again would make Trump lose face somewhat.
In practical terms, Iran has relatively advanced centrifuges. If it diluted enriched uranium at home, it could use the centrifuges to enrich it again at any time. In that scenario, Iran wouldn’t have nuclear weapons, but it would effectively have quasi-nuclear weapons.
So Trump won’t make concessions on this issue. And with Iran controlling passage through the Strait of Hormuz, why would it be willing to hand over its enriched uranium? Remember, in 2005 Iran did not control the strait.
On the other hand, in 2005 Iran handed over its enriched uranium, and Russia provided Iran with a large quantity of uranium powder in exchange. Now that Iran has advanced centrifuges, supplying it with uranium powder may no longer be appropriate.
Perhaps, with the midterm elections approaching, both sides are creating an atmosphere of peace. Be on guard for a reversal.
The core disagreement between the two sides is Iran’s enriched uranium.
Trump would never allow Iran to dilute this enriched uranium domestically.
On the surface, Trump wants a better deal than the one Obama struck. Back then, Iran handed its enriched uranium over to a third party—in other words, Russia. If Iran were allowed to dilute it domestically, how would that make Trump look? Even handing it over to a third country again would make Trump lose face somewhat.
In practical terms, Iran has relatively advanced centrifuges. If it diluted enriched uranium at home, it could use the centrifuges to enrich it again at any time. In that scenario, Iran wouldn’t have nuclear weapons, but it would effectively have quasi-nuclear weapons.
So Trump won’t make concessions on this issue. And with Iran controlling passage through the Strait of Hormuz, why would it be willing to hand over its enriched uranium? Remember, in 2005 Iran did not control the strait.
On the other hand, in 2005 Iran handed over its enriched uranium, and Russia provided Iran with a large quantity of uranium powder in exchange. Now that Iran has advanced centrifuges, supplying it with uranium powder may no longer be appropriate.
Perhaps, with the midterm elections approaching, both sides are creating an atmosphere of peace. Be on guard for a reversal.
