Are we working together towards World Peace?-by Harold Gunatillake
Overview:
The issue of global peace often seems intangible — until a significant breakthrough compels the international community to pause and reassess its possibilities. The recent U.S.–Iran Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), electronically signed by President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, exemplifies such a moment. To grasp its importance, we must first revisit the groundwork laid a decade earlier.
Let us commence this discussion by elucidating President Obama’s nuclear strategy regarding Iran.
The 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), negotiated by the Obama administration in collaboration with
other global powers, was explicitly formulated to obstruct all avenues for Iran to develop nuclear weapons. Although the agreement allowed Iran to sustain a highly restricted civilian nuclear energy program, it imposed stringent, internationally monitored limits on uranium enrichment to guarantee that the material could never be weaponised.
Core Restrictions of the 2015 Iran Deal
- The agreement significantly limited Iran’s immediate capacity to develop a nuclear weapon through several stringent measures:
- Enrichment Cap: Iran was prohibited from enriching uranium beyond 3.67%.
- Weapons-grade uranium requires an enrichment level of approximately 90%.
· The 3.67% limit is intended solely for commercial nuclear power and research purposes.
- Stockpile Reduction: Iran was mandated to reduce its enriched uranium stockpile by 98%, decreasing it from 10,000 kilograms to merely 300 This reduction rendered the country incapable of producing even a single nuclear weapon.
- Centrifuge Reductions: Iran was mandated to deactivate two-thirds of its centrifuges and to store them under ongoing international
- The agreement mandated that Iran redesign its heavy-water reactor in Arak to prevent the production of weapons-grade plutonium; consequently, the reactor core was rendered
Permanent Prohibition and Verification
Critics frequently observe that the agreement allowed Iran to maintain limited domestic enrichment activities. Nevertheless, the treaty incorporated a permanent prohibition, explicitly stating that Iran could never pursue, develop, or acquire nuclear weapons under any circumstances.
Compliance was not contingent upon trust; the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) was granted continuous, 24/7 access to Iran’s critical nuclear facilities and its entire supply
chain. Until the United States’ withdrawal from the agreement in 2018, the IAEA consistently verified Iran’s full compliance with these nuclear restrictions.
The current Memorandum of Understanding
The memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed by the Trump administration and Iran explicitly stipulates that Tehran must reaffirm its commitment not to acquire or develop nuclear weapons.
U.S. President Donald Trump and Iran’s President, Masoud Pezeshkian, have electronically signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at ending the conflict involving the United States and Israel against Iran. Both parties confirm that the agreement is now in effect. U.S. officials state that the memorandum includes commitments from Iran not to develop or acquire nuclear weapons, signifies the cessation of hostilities on all fronts, and entails the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
Notably, the 14-point Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) does not specify the procedures for managing Iran’s current stockpile of enriched uranium. Instead, it dedicates 60 days to negotiating a comprehensive, detailed nuclear agreement.
Israeli forces persist with military operations in Lebanon despite its inclusion in the US-Iran Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem has lauded the agreement as a “significant victory” and stated that Lebanon’s negotiations with Israel should exclusively concentrate on “mutual security.” However, the 14-point Memorandum of Understanding does not delineate the specific management of Iran’s current enriched uranium stockpile, instead deferring these crucial technical and logistical issues to 60 days allocated to reaching a final agreement.
Key details of the agreement include:
- Enriched Uranium: The Memorandum of Understanding stipulates that Iran consents to the destruction of its supply of enriched uranium through down blending on Iranian territory
under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Enriching uranium—the process conducted in Iran.
Uranium enrichment for strategic or energy-related purposes involves increasing the concentration of the fissile isotope Uranium-235 (U-235). Naturally occurring uranium contains approximately 0.7% U-235, with the majority being U-238. To meet the requirements of various applications, this concentration is enhanced through specialised physical processes.
A prevalent method for enrichment is the gas centrifuge process.
This technique leverages the minor mass discrepancy between the U-235 and U-238 isotopes. When uranium is converted to the gaseous state and subjected to rapid rotation in a centrifuge, centrifugal force causes the heavier U-238 isotopes to migrate toward the outer wall of the cylinder. In contrast, the lighter U-235 isotopes tend to remain near the centre.
Owing to the limited separation capability of a single centrifuge, multiple units are interconnected in
series to form a cascade. As the material advances through successive stages of this cascade, the concentration of U-235 gradually increases.
The level of enrichment determines the intended application of the material.:
Low-Enriched Uranium (LEU): Typically contains 3% to 5% U-235 and is utilised as fuel for commercial nuclear power reactors. Highly Enriched Uranium (HEU): Contains 20% or more U-235.
Concentrations reaching 90% or higher are classified as weapons-grade due to their capacity to sustain the rapid chain reaction necessary for an explosive device.
The agreement stipulates an immediate and indefinite cessation of all military activities across all fronts, including those within Lebanon, and further commits to reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
Sanctions Relief and Assistance: The United States pledges to grant waivers for Iranian oil exports and to establish a $300 billion reconstruction fund spearheaded by the United States in collaboration with regional partners.
Hold on a moment—this war isn’t over yet. It looks like the US-Iran nuclear talks might take more than 60 days to complete.
Kenneth Katzman, a senior fellow at The Soufan Centre, notes that talks between Iran and the US over Tehran’s nuclear programme are likely to extend beyond 60 days.
- Will Iran fully dismantle its enriched uranium stockpile?
- Will regional actors, especially Israel and Hezbollah, honour the ceasefire?
- Will the S. and Iran maintain diplomatic momentum long enough to reach a final agreement?
For now, the world watches — cautiously hopeful that diplomacy may finally prevail over conflict.
The United States and Iran have reached an agreement to cease hostilities and temporarily reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The framework delineates procedures for suspending U.S. sanctions on Iranian oil exports and establishes a $300 billion initiative for reconstruction and economic development, supported by regional partners.
I hope I’ve clearly explained the process for 90% uranium production and shared the exciting details of the current MOU signing, all with the hope of contributing to a better, more peaceful world.
