Questions swirling over status of Iran’s enriched nuclear material
We’ve been speaking with Miles Pomper, a senior fellow at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies in Washington, DC, about the effects of Israel’s attacks on Iran’s nuclear facilities.
Pomper said that while the scope of the damage remains uncertain, “clearly, the capability of Iran to enrich material at the same rate it was doing before has been affected.”
“One question that’s open is what’s happened to the material that was accumulated so far and where those stockpiles are and how many of those have been hit,” he told Al Jazeera.
The challenge for the UN’s nuclear agency (IAEA) going forward, if Iran allows inspectors back into the country, will be to account for that enriched material.
I doubt Iran will ever trust the IAEA again
International community must act to prevent further escalation
Yossi Mekelberg, a senior consulting fellow at Chatham House, says it is up to the UN, the US and other countries to pressure both Israel and Iran to de-escalate the situation.
“This event is still fresh, it’s less than 24 hours old and there is no sign of any of the sides [being] ready to climb down,” Mekelberg told Al Jazeera. He explained that if tensions are not de-escalated, then there could be weeks of tit-for-tat attacks between Israeli and Iranian forces.
“In Israel, the general view [is] that Iran poses an existential threat – especially if it possesses nuclear weapons – and it is prepared [for] this moment,” Mekelberg said.
Trump’s next move critical to prevent region falling ‘into the abyss’
The International Crisis Group (ICG) says “whether an open-ended war plunges the entire Middle East into the abyss will depend largely” on what US President Trump does next.
“Trump’s initial statements paint Israel’s strikes as useful leverage for nuclear talks, but to see them that way is a mistake,” the think tank said in a statement analysing the latest Israeli attacks on Iran and retaliatory firings by Iranian forces.
“Instead, he urgently needs to press Israel to stop ramping up its campaign and offer Iran incentives to stand down, while making clear to Tehran the ruinous costs of not doing so.”
The ICG added that Trump should press Netanyahu’s government to stop escalating the situation, possibly through a threat to block weapons transfers to the country. At the same time, the US president should offer Iran “a set of reasonable terms” on nuclear deal negotiations, such as sanctions relief.
“Such a course would require difficult diplomacy and for Trump to face down what would be fierce opposition in Washington. But moving in the opposite direction, as he appears to be doing now, is far worse.”
We're doomed, Trump can only give 2 week warnings repeatedly. Better be prepared for recession and high gas prices.
