A former nuclear negotiator described the initial nuclear agreement reached between Iran and the major powers in Lausanne on Thursday as "a historic achievement" as it has prevented a catastrophic war in the Middle East.
"Definitely, the deal is a historic achievement and definitely, this is a road to peace because the deal practically prevented a new war in the Middle East, which could be much more disastrous for the US and for the region compared to the war against Afghanistan and the war on Iraq," Hossein Mousavian said in an interview with Democracy Now news program on Saturday.
"I believe diplomacy worked. They have achieved excellent conclusion," he said, adding after they have reached "the final comprehensive deal by end of June (the deadline for a final settlement)…, they should negotiate on further disputed issues through diplomacy."
Asked to comment on the key aspects of the deal for Iran and the US, Mousavian said it is a "good" agreement for Iranians as it covers the two key points Iran wanted to be recognized by the other negotiating side "from the day one."
"The first point was to accept, to respect the rights of Iran for peaceful nuclear technology, including enrichment on their nonproliferation treaty NPT… (Under the framework agreement) Iran would be entitled to have peaceful nuclear technology."
"The second key issue for Iran was lifting the sanctions. This deal also contains, ultimately, lifting all unilateral, multilateral sanctions — nuclear-related sanctions," the former ambassador to Germany elaborated.
Maximum Transparency
The deal is also fair for the Americans, because it "contains exactly the key element the US was looking," Mousavian said, explaining that "the maximum level of transparency" and "verification and confidence-building measures" have been undertaken by Iran that guarantee its nuclear program will remain peaceful.
Elsewhere, he denied that a change of Iran's government and approach, which made the West more willing to reach a deal, led to the negotiations yielding results, saying it was the United States that "moderated its position." The framework is exactly like the principles and frameworks we proposed European countries between 2003 to 2005…. In 2013, the preliminary deal was signed.… The US was not ready to accept the legitimate rights of Iran on their NPT for enrichment. US would say the red line is enrichment. Iran cannot have one centrifuge. Iran should have zero enrichment. That's why we couldn't make the deal."
"The US changed, moderated its position. The US said, now Iran can have enrichment on their nonproliferation treaty, but limited and for its practical needs… (Therefore, the reason) was the US to realize and to respect the nonproliferation treaty," he concluded.
