AP Exclusive: Document shows less limits on Iran nuke work

[alp227]

Source: AP

VIENNA (AP) — Key restrictions on Iran's nuclear program imposed under an internationally negotiated deal will start to ease years before the 15-year accord expires, advancing Tehran's ability to build a bomb even before the end of the pact, according to a document obtained Monday by The Associated Press.

The confidential document is the only text linked to last year's deal between Iran and six foreign powers that hasn't been made public, although U.S. officials say members of Congress who expressed interest were briefed on its substance. It was given to the AP by a diplomat whose work has focused on Iran's nuclear program for more than a decade, and its authenticity was confirmed by another diplomat who possesses the same document.

Both demanded anonymity because they were not authorized to share or discuss the document.

The diplomat who shared the text with the AP described it as an add-on agreement to the nuclear deal in the form of a document submitted by Iran to the International Atomic Energy Agency outlining its plans to expand its uranium enrichment program after the first 10 years of the nuclear deal.

Read more: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/140ca41aba7a42cda13792f07df4b8d3/ap-exclusive-secret-document-lifts-iran-nuke-constraints

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Shouldn't the headline say "fewer"?

[bemildred]

1. Anonymous fear-mongering and speculation. nt

[bananas]

2. Moniz confirmed it.

From the article:

And that time frame could shrink even more. While the document doesn't say what happens with centrifuge numbers and types past year 13, U.S. Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz told The AP that Iran will be free to install any number of advanced centrifuges beyond that point, even though the nuclear deal extends two additional years..

<snip>

In selling the deal to skeptics, the U.S. administration said it is tailored to ensure that Iran would need at least 12 months to "break out" and make enough weapons grade uranium for at least one weapon. Moniz said the document obtained by the AP posed no contradiction to that claim because "we made it very clear that we were focused on 10 years on the minimum one-year breakout time."

[bemildred]

5. They could do that before the deal too.

They are signatory to the NPT, they could enrich and were enriching and adding centrifuges etc. without the deal. That is why we negotiated the deal, so we could watch what they do, and that will continue. They got the right to enrich without harassment, we got the right to keep an eye on what they are up to and negotiate limits on how much.

That was the best deal we were going to get, because they have a right to enrich as signatories to the NPT. War is really not an option right now. Eh? Have you seen the Middle East lately? Iran is a bastion of stability, about the only one at the moment. The last thing we want to do is destabilize them too.

This is just whinging about the terms of the deal because certain parties feel that Iran has not been punished enough yet.

Edit: please see post #4 for an example of what I mean when I say whining about the terms of the deal.

[bananas]

3. Less or fewer? Less might be correct.

The article describes measurement (efficiency of centrifuges and rate of enrichment) and time:

From year 11 to 13, says the document, Iran will install centrifuges up to five times as efficient as the 5,060 machines it is now restricted to using.

Those new models will number less than those being used now, ranging between 2,500 and 3,500, depending on their efficiency, according to the document. But because they are more effective, they will allow Iran to enrich at more than twice the rate it is doing now.

<snip>

And that time frame could shrink even more. While the document doesn't say what happens with centrifuge numbers and types past year 13, U.S. Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz told The AP that Iran will be free to install any number of advanced centrifuges beyond that point, even though the nuclear deal extends two additional years..

According to Oxford, "less" is to be used with measurements and time:

http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/words/less-or-fewer

<snip>

Less is also used with numbers when they are on their own and with expressions of measurement or time, e.g.:

His weight fell from 18 stone to less than 12.

Their marriage lasted less than two years.

Heath Square is less than four miles away from Dublin city centre.

[7962]

4. I told you we were being played from the start. Iran has NO intention of stopping

Anyone who could look at this deal without a political bias knew it from the start. But apparently "getting the deal" was mpre important than how tough it was
Iran will probably have a bomb by the end of HRCs 1st term

[Angel Martin]

8. don't worry !

Ben Rhodes has got this./sarc

[bemildred]

6. U.N.: Iran Keeping Commitments, But Flouting Spirit of Nuke Deal

UNITED NATIONS—A United Nations report on the Iran nuclear deal hailed the country for keeping its nuclear commitments, while criticizing actions unrelated to its nuclear program but that are seen as damaging to the momentum and spirit of the deal.

The 17-page report, timed around the first anniversary of the deal, was released Monday by U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

Mr. Ban pointed to Iran’s launches of long-range ballistic missiles and reports that it shipped weapons to Yemen and Iraq.

Mr. Ban’s criticism was carefully worded. The report “calls on” Iran to refrain from activities that could destabilize the region, but doesn't condemn Iran for violating Security Council Resolution 2231. The resolution was adopted by the Council unanimously in July 2015 to endorse the nuclear deal.

http://www.wsj.com/articles/u-n-iran-keeping-commitments-but-flouting-spirit-of-nuke-deal-1468933170

[bemildred]

7. U.S., Russia criticize U.N. chief over Iran nuclear deal report

The United States and Russia both criticized United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday for overstepping his mandate in a report on the implementation of a Security Council resolution backing a nuclear deal between Iran and world powers.

Most U.N. sanctions on Iran were lifted in January when the U.N. nuclear watchdog confirmed that Tehran fulfilled commitments under its nuclear deal with Britain, France, Germany, China, Russia and the United States. But Iran is still subject to a U.N. arms embargo and other restrictions.

U.N. political affairs chief Jeffrey Feltman briefed the 15-member Security Council on Monday on Ban's first bi-annual report on the implementation of the remaining sanctions and restrictions on Iran.

"The United States disagrees strongly with elements of this report, including that its content goes beyond the appropriate scope. We understand that Iran also disagrees strongly with parts of the report," U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Samantha Power, told the council.

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-iran-nuclear-un-idUSKCN0ZY2MC?rpc=401