World Powers Agree on Iran Deal

On Thursday in Vienna, a meeting took place between six world powers including the US, China, Russia, France, Germany, and the EU to discuss the nuclear crisis in Iran. For the first time, world powers have joined forces and have come to an agreement on how to best deal with Iran. The meeting comes after weeks of talks by Major European countries to find a way for Iran to curb its uranium enrichment program. The US has so far been reluctant to make contact with Iran, claming that Iran can not be trusted.

This is the first time since the fall of the Shah’s Iran to a military coup which took place over two decades ago that the US has agreed to communicate directly with Iran. On Wednesday, Condoleezza Rice said that the US was making a major policy shift by agreeing to talk to Iran for the first time in 26 years. Rice made it clear at the meeting in Vienna, “We urge Iran to take the positive path and to consider seriously our substantive proposals, which would bring significant benefits.” Russia and China are also joining the US after saying for months that they will not back sanctions against Iran. Russia and China seem willing to side with the US, so long as the focus is to resolve the nuclear crisis in Iran by using diplomacy. The Middle Eastern country’s enrichment program has been viewed by some as a step towards creating its own nuclear weapons.

The meeting created a list of demands for Iran to carry out, but also offered an incentives package which will be presented to Iran shortly. Sanctions might include bans on travel visas for Iranian officials, a weapons embargo, and the loss of an Iranian bid to join the WTO. A follow-up meeting is scheduled to take place in mid-July in St. Petersburg, where Iranian officials will have a chance to discuss the package with the major world powers. Iranian government officials replied to the Vienna meeting by criticizing the demands that the six countries have placed upon them to end their uranium enrichment plans.
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Last updated 03/06/2006

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