2010/02/06

A chance left unused: No easing of tensions in the controversy about Iran’s nuclear program

Iran's Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki fails to convince his audience in Munich. Photo: Harald Dettenborn

It could have been the surprise coup of the first day of the Munich Security Conference. In a short-term move, Wolfgang Ischinger had decided to schedule a discussion between Sweden's Foreign Minister Carl Bildt and his Iranian counterpart Manouchehr Mottaki for the conference's eagerly anticipated late Friday evening program. Shortly past midnight, though, Mr. Ischinger said that he was sorry to find that, once again, an opportunity had been allowed to go by unused.

Right from the start of the conference in the afternoon, debates at Hotel Bayerischer Hof had been dominated by speculations on a new announcement made by Iran in the discourse on the country’s nuclear program. In view of the latest signals received from Tehran, many observers had been hoping for a more precisely specified offer and possible de-escalation. Sideline comments obtained during the conference revealed considerable skepticism whether this time the Iranian side could be expected to come up with a substantial offer. Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle emphasized that Iran needed to follow up her words with concrete actions. After meeting with the Russian delegation, Mr. Westerwelle once again made it clear that "a nuclear-armed Iran is unacceptable for us." Before, a newspaper report published in the Süddeutsche Zeitung had attracted attention, claiming that Iran had already developed a nuclear warhead that could be carried by Iran's Shahab-3 intermediate-range ballistic missile. Therefore, in an allusion to Tehran's possible preparedness to reach a compromise, Defense Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg, in his welcome speech at the start of the conference,  maintained that "it would be desirable to hear a clear, unmistakable and lasting signal this weekend."

Exactly this, though, was missing from Manouchehr Mottaki's statements. Indeed, the Iranian foreign minister stressed that a good foundation had been laid for further negotiations. Iran was seriously interested. But, Mr. Mottaki continued, despite the fact that in principle there was agreement on the exchange of fuel rods with subsequent uranium enrichment abroad, his country felt that there was still some need for negotiation as to quantities and timeframes. Mr. Mottaki underlined that Iran only wanted to exercise her rights under the Nonproliferation Treaty and that his country harbored no further ambitions. He was pleased to note that the permanent members of the UN Security Council, too, accepted Iran's basic right to pursue the peaceful use of nuclear technology.

In response, Sweden's Foreign Minister Carl Bildt confronted Mr. Mottaki with the contradictions observed in the Iranian position. If Mr. Mottaki was talking about rules, Carl Bildt said, he should be asked why Iran failed to comply with all the rules laid down by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Mr. Bildt continued that he was wondering why Iran did not fully cooperate with the IAEA to clarify any unresolved issues, as the agency was a neutral technological organization of the international community. "You are talking about rights. But what about obligations?", Mr. Bildt asked. His country – Sweden – was adhering to the Additional Protocol to the Nonproliferation Treaty. "We are talking about the requirements put forth by IAEA and the United Nations Security Council." Mr. Bildt demanded that Mr. Mottaki should come forward with concrete commitments in his dealings with IAEA.
He stressed that the nuclear program was not the only issue on which there was disagreement, citing human rights issues and the quelling of protests in Iran. Yet, agreement needed to be reached on the nuclear question. Now, because of "united international efforts" there was an opportunity to ease the tensions – after many a missed chance, this was an opportunity we should not allow to pass. In the face of recent death sentences imposed on regime critics, Mr. Bildt emphasized that any more such sentences would have the "most detrimental effect on our relations." 
Minister Mottaki rejected both his counterpart's criticism and several allegations voiced from among the audience by saying that Iran was a democratic country with its own elected system: "There can be no democracy first class and democracy second class democracies." If his government reacted harshly, it did so only against criminal offenders who had violated the laws.

If not earlier, it was at this stage that disappointment made itself felt in the conference hall, and more and more of those present decided to leave. Up on the conference stage, the two discussion partners remained behind, stressing that this was an opportunity which must not be missed. "This is the last chance in our program," Mr. Mottaki explained. Or, as Carl Bildt put it: "The clock is ticking."

In the MSC Media Center you can find a short comment made by Wolfgang Ischinger after the discussion.