TEHRAN(Bazaar) – Professor Frank N. von Hippel, former assistant director for national security in the White House Office of Science and Technology, says reducing tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia is important and would reduce Saudi Arabia’s incentives to create its own nuclear weapons option.
He adds Amir-Abdollahian’s words in the meeting with Josep Borrell about Iran's readiness to revive the JCPOA were positive and promising.
Following is the text of the Bazaar interview with Professor Frank N. von Hippel.
Q: The American ambassador to the United Nations has stated that the JCPOA issue has nothing to do with Iran's protests. What is your assessment of these words?
A: Objectively, dealing with the danger of a possible chain reaction of nuclear-weapon proliferation in the volatile Middle East is separable from how Iran treats the human rights of Iranian women. It is obviously difficult to compartmentalize, however. This compound the difficulties caused by Iran’s refusal to talk directly to US diplomats; its insistence that European intermediaries carry messages back and forth – obviously a very inefficient process.
Q: UN Secretary-General António Guterresthe, stated that he has always believed that the JCPOA is an important diplomatic achievement, in a statement to reporters that he will try not to lose this agreement. What does he mean by these efforts and what initiatives can he do?
A: One of the Secretary General’s responsibilities is to promote the peaceful resolutions of disputes. But he can only urge governments on. He can’t make decisions for them.
Q: Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iran met with Josep Borrell in the Dead Sea area of Jordan and said that “The Islamic Republic of Iran is ready to conclude the Vienna talks based on the draft negotiation package that is the result of months of hard and intensive negotiations.” What is your assessment of these words?
A: That would be very good news! If that is Iran’s position, it should make it public and challenge the US to respond in kind.
Q: The meeting in Jordan can reduce regional tensions, especially between Iran and Saudi Arabia. It seems that reducing the tension between Iran and Saudi Arabia will also help to revive the JCPOA. What is your assessment?
A: I am not sure how much of an impact it will have on the JCPOA negotiations but reducing tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia is important and would reduce Saudi Arabia’s incentives to create its own nuclear weapons option.
Q: It seems that with the recent movements, the previous pessimism towards the revival of the JCPOA has decreased a little. Do you agree with this opinion?
A: We have gone up and down so many times in this process that it feels endless, but we must not give up on our efforts to achieve a more peaceful future.
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