Oman: Breakthrough as US and Iran agree on zero uranium stockpiling
Istanbul (ANTARA) – Oman’s Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Al-Busaidi announced on Friday (27 February) that US-Iran nuclear negotiations have agreed on a zero uranium enrichment stockpiling policy, with reductions in stocks to the lowest possible level and conversion into permanent fuel under IAEA verification.
Al-Busaidi told CBS that he was confident a “peace agreement is within our reach” if diplomacy is given the “space needed to achieve it.”
“The most important achievement, in my view, is the agreement that Iran will never possess nuclear material that could create a bomb,” said Al-Busaidi.
He characterised the understanding as “something truly new” compared with previous nuclear agreements negotiated under former US President Barack Obama.
The Omani Foreign Minister stated that negotiations have produced an agreement on “zero accumulation, zero stockpiling, and full verification” by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), describing it as a breakthrough that renders the enrichment argument “less relevant.”
Regarding existing supplies in Iran, Al-Busaidi stated that “there is now an agreement that these will be mixed to the lowest possible level… and converted into fuel, and that fuel cannot be converted again.”
“I believe we have reached an agreement on that, in my view,” he added.
Al-Busaidi also stated that if an agreement is reached, there will be “full and comprehensive verification by the IAEA,” and even US inspectors could have access “at certain points in the process” if the agreement is honoured and remains sustainable and stable in the long term.
He said the broader political components of the agreement “can be agreed tomorrow,” with technical talks scheduled in Vienna, whilst implementation related to supplies, verification, and access can be completed within “90 days.”
“I believe there is no alternative other than diplomacy that will resolve this issue,” he said, whilst warning that military action would only “complicate the resolution of this issue and delay it.”
In recent weeks, the US has strengthened its military presence in the Persian Gulf and signalled the possibility of military operations to pressure Iran to abandon its nuclear and missile programmes and curb its “regional allies.”
Tehran has accused Washington and Israel of fabricating pretexts for intervention and regime change, and has warned that it will respond to any military action, even if limited, whilst insisting that sanctions relief must accompany any restrictions on its nuclear programme.
Source: Anadolu