The interim nuclear deal is being implemented. The ball is now in Iran’s court.
The interim nuclear deal hammered out in Geneva by Iran and the P5+1 last November came into effect on January 20. Under the deal, Iran has begun curbing uranium enrichment, suspending its most sensitive nuclear development work and placing its nuclear sector under unprecedented international scrutiny. In response, the US and EU have lifted some of the sanctions crippling Iran’s oil-driven economy. Tehran can resume export of petrochemicals now and receive $4.2 billion of its frozen oil assets. But most of the sanctions — imposed since 2006 — will stay in place for the six months of the interim deal. The ball is now in Tehran’s court, if it wants to see a permanent solution to the nuclear problem.
Having come this far, Tehran must know the price of reneging on its commitments. Not only will the sanctions return, but Iran will not get this opportunity to reintegrate itself into the community of nations in a long time. In turn, the P5+1 must remember that, should Tehran renege, it could enrich uranium sufficiently to produce a nuclear weapon within weeks. New Delhi, having welcomed the deal, should make every effort to scale up its Middle Eastern engagement — as both a precautionary step in a region that may now change dramatically, as well as to profit from it. India has a lot at stake, even as it benefits from the eased import of Iranian crude.
