FACT CHECK: Did Netanyahu go too far in US speech?

FACT CHECK: Did Netanyahu go too far in US speech?

THE FACTS: “Short” is debatable. The Obama administration argues that a year is plenty long enough for international inspectors and intelligence agencies to pick up on any effort by Iran to surreptitiously “break out” toward nuclear weapons. Netanyahu said his government’s understanding of the agreement means that window would be narrower. He didn’t specify by how much, however. On advanced centrifuges, Netanyahu noted that their installation would cut the timespan even more. But he didn’t mention that a deal is likely to restrict Iran to its basic centrifuge model, at least over the first decade.

___

NETANYAHU: “According to the deal, not a single nuclear facility would be demolished. Thousands of centrifuges used to enrich uranium would be left spinning. Thousands more would be temporarily disconnected, but not destroyed.”

THE FACTS: Though vague, Netanyahu’s assessments on facilities and centrifuges are reasonable. Instead of dismantlement, officials have spoken of Iran converting its underground uranium enrichment site at Fordo into a research facility. A planned heavy water reactor at Arak seems likely to be redesigned to produce far less plutonium than first envisioned. Plutonium, like uranium, can be used in nuclear warheads. Negotiators say Iran could reduce its centrifuges enriching uranium to 6,500 – significantly less than the 9,000 that operate now and the thousands more sitting offline.

___

NETANYAHU: “True, certain restrictions would be imposed on Iran’s nuclear program and Iran’s adherence to those restrictions would be supervised by international inspectors. But here’s the problem. You see, inspectors document violations; they don’t stop them.”

THE FACTS: The U.N. nuclear agency has little enforcement power to eliminate noncompliant Iranian activity. But by publicizing infractions, the agency would put the world on notice. Documented violations with the United Nations’ imprimatur would give the U.S. ample justification for re-imposing suspended sanctions, bringing the matter to the U.N. Security Council or even considering military options.

___

NETANYAHU: “The second major concession creates an even greater danger that Iran could get to the bomb by keeping the deal, because virtually all the restrictions on Iran’s nuclear program will automatically expire in about a decade… Iran would then be free to build a huge nuclear capacity that could produce many, many nuclear bombs.”

Story Continues →

via NorthEast Calling http://ift.tt/18LyG1B