Will the ongoing Washington- Tehran dialogue on a new nuclear deal make any headway? Observers say it is highly unlikely. In response to US President Donald J Trump’ recent ultimatum that Iran negotiate a deal on its nuclear programme within two months, two rounds of talks between Washington and Tehran—first in Oman and then in its embassy in Rome—have so far taken place.  But Tehran is highly unlikely to concede what Washington wants and dismantle its nuclear weapon programme.

According to an estimate, Iran today has already more than 600 pounds of uranium enriched up to 60 percent. It can manufacture a bomb within days. Its stocks of enriched uranium and centrifuge capacity are sufficient to make up to nine nuclear weapons in a month.

The observers say that one of the reasons for Tehran’s reluctance to stop its nuclear armament programme could be that   the current radical Shiite regime in Iran sees its weapon project as the key to its very survival. The regime seems to calculate dismantling its nuclear weapon facilities would demoralize it too much to survive.

A new reason for Tehran’s belligerence in the matter can be seen in its growing proximity to Moscow. Russian President Vladimir Putin has recently ratified a 20-year  strategic partnership agreement  between Moscow and Tehran. Russian President Putin and his Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian had concluded the agreement in January this year. The State Duma – the lower house of Russia’s parliament – approved it earlier this month. The Federation Council – Russia’s upper house of parliament – passed it last week only.

Of course, the Russo-Iranian agreement does not include a mutual defence clause of the kind Russia has had with North Korea. But the agreement does considerably boost the clout of Iran in the world. Under the agreement, neither country is to permit its territory to be used for actions that might pose a threat to the other. Besides, the agreement prohibits assistance to any “aggressor” that may target either nation. With this agreement, Iran can skip the current Western sanctions against it and advance its nuclear weapons programme. Iran could use Russia also to store its  stockpile of highly enriched uranium . .

The observers say Washington would do well not to expect much from any negotiations with Iran. It must aim to reverse, not retard, Iran’s nuclear advancement. Surgically dismantling Iran’s nuclear weapon sites is its only option today.  There is no point trying to force the Khamenei regime into any negotiations with Washington.

The very nature of the Shiite regime in Iran inclines it to acquire nuclear weapons and use them to advance its Sharia agenda world over. Washington and all its democratic allies must unite together to checkmate the radical Iranian regime from spreading any dark agenda in the modern world.

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