|
The deal signed in July stipulates U.S. andEuropean sanctions against Iran will be lifted in return for a reduction ofTehran's nuclear facilities, to prevent it from developing atomic weapons. In his latest assessment this month, thehead of the U.N nuclear watchdog agency, said Iran is on track. If your question is that Iran is planningto complete their preparatory activities in two, three weeks' time, I do nothave a reason to doubt it. That could see Western sanctions lifted inearly 2016. US president Barack Obama cites the nuclear deal as one of his tenreasons to be optimistic heading into the new year. We succeeded in forging a strong deal to stopIran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. In fact, Iran has already dismantledthousands of centrifuges that enrich uranium. The agreement has transformed Iran'sposition on the world stage, says Mehrdad Khonsari, a prominent Iranian oppositionfigure. It has ended Iran's isolation. It hascreated a forum whereby Iran can reintegrate itself into the internationalcommunity. That reintegration is shifting the regionalpower balance between Shia-led Iran and Sunni-led Saudi Arabia, who are backingdifferent sides in civil conflicts in Syria and Yemen. The West is now engaged in fighting Sunniextremists like the Islamic State and sees Iran as less of a security threat,says Khonsari. I think that recognition has come in theaftermath of this nuclear agreement. Coupled with the fact that when you lookat the economy, and economic issues, you see that Iran is today, also, becauseof its population and resources, it is the world's, you might say, foreigninvestment market. The most valuable of those resources oil isnow up for grabs. The country announced this month that it is seeking $25billion in investments from foreign companies in a large number of newcontracts. If sanctions are lifted early next year,the oil and the money will start flowing. |
|
|
