Strategic Assessment

The latest developments in the ongoing negotiations between Iran and the EU-3 (Britain, France, and Germany) on the nuclear issue began with Iran’s flat rejection in early August of the European proposal to restrict its indigenous nuclear program in exchange for many economic, political, and technological incentives that would still give Iran all the benefits of civil nuclear energy. This rebuff was compounded by Iran’s subsequent decision to restart activities at its Uranium Conversion Facility (UCF) in Esfahan a few days later. Although Iran stated its willingness and desire to continue negotiating, it was adamant in its decision to operate its own complete nuclear fuel cycle, including enrichment, a condition the EU-3 has not been willing to accept.