The Best and Only Option

1. The Best and Only Option • By Shakina Hawthorne and Alexandra Knights

2. 1957 – U.S and Iran sign a civil nuclear cooperation agreement as part of the US Atoms for Peace program. 2 February 1970 - Iran ratifies the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). 1974 - United States and Iran reach a provisional agreement for the United States to supply two nuclear power reactors and enriched uranium fuel. 1979 - Because of the Islamic Revolution in Iran, the United States stops its supply of highly enriched uranium (HEU) to Iran. 2002 - Iran goes public with Nuclear program; US refuses to negotiate with Iran. 2004 – Agreement with European states to keep Uranium enrichment to Civilian levels. 2006 – Russia provides fuel; takes away waste. IAEA inspectors allowed in only to discover mixed findings. History Between U.S. & Iran

3. Tehran withholding info for nearly 20 years from IAEA. Uranium is changed into nuclear fuel which can power nuclear weapons. Government officials could easily share nuclear energy with groups such as Hezbollah and other terrorists groups. Why is Iran so protective over their facilities for “civilian use” if they have a continuous supply of oil? Iran & The War on Terrorism

4. Ineffective Sanctions • Iran refuses to stop their nuclear program. • “Sanctions by European countries and the West won’t have any effect on our decision.” Pres. Ahmadinejad • “As long as we resist it is a victory. It is a very simple formula.” Pres. Ahmadinejad

5. Bilateral Negotiations: The Effective Choice • Six party talks intimidate Iran and encourage them to want more power. • U.S. should handle this situation with Iran immediately. • Focus on threat from North Korea.

6. Iran claims they are pursuing nuclear technology for generating electricity and other civilian purposes. But between their withholding of information from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and their capability of enriching Uranium to the higher levels, for use in a nuclear weapon, Iran has aroused the world’s suspicion that they may be trying to create a weapon of mass destruction. The Issue

7. Our Policy We believe that… • Reforming the NPT to limit the level to which you can enrich uranium, plutonium and other nuclear energies, by use of multilateral talks that include Iran and N. Korea. • Creating set guidelines for use and management of nuclear energy plants. • Initiating bilateral talks with Iran to repair our relationship and create better communication between us. • Creating a set time frame that Iran would have to conform to the new NPT guidelines. Is the best solution for dealing with Iran.

8. Pros The U.S will no longer be oblivious to what is going on in Iran because if we help them we have to know what is going on. With guidelines that are refined there is less opportunity for other countries who interpret NPT standards differently oppose one another or to get through loop holes. Since Iran would help with the reformation of the NPT they would have to follow the guideline that they helped to set. Cons Changing the NPT will affect other countries as well. You lose valuable time with respects to progress and decisions that Iran could make while the NPT is being reformed. Bilateral talks may make the United States appear weaker in the eyes of other countries. Policy Pros and Cons