Iran’s Additional Protocol concerns need not stop deal
Iran has little to worry about in agreeing to enforce the NPT Additional Protocol, with resources like "managed access" and precedents for dispute resolution from other countries.
Is the Additional Protocol to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty a dangerous one? Will Iran be faced with unforeseen demands by the International Atomic Energy Agency if it agrees to it? The short legal answer to both of these questions is no.
These are the final days of negotiations between Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany (P5+1). These negotiations will determine the fate of Iran’s comprehensive nuclear agreement, and it is obvious from the tone of senior Iranian officials, President Hassan Rouhani included, that with this agreement Iran will once again, after almost 10 years, voluntarily agree to enforce the Additional Protocol.
Hamid Baiedinejad, one of Iran’s senior negotiators, says that it is impossible to reach a comprehensive nuclear agreement without the Additional Protocol. Rouhani has said that Iran will enforce the protocol but will not allow others access to its secrets, including military secrets.
The Additional Protocol is an important legal instrument and international agreement designed to strengthen and complete the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and fill its legal voids. Without this protocol, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will not be able to determine whether the nuclear activities of a certain country are peaceful and whether any secret activities are taking place.
