By: Sayyedeh Parastoo Vakili
The emergence of new technological advances can be useful to human kind and difficult for a nation to resist its benefits, but when countries are enhancing their technology with atomic and nuclear weapons they must comply with the international laws or be subject to international regulations. Since 2006, we have seen and heard Iran being subject to sanctions imposed by the Security Counsel. Iran has repeatedly maintained that its development of nuclear technology is purely for civilian use. However, the world powers (P5+1) argued on the contrary, stating that Iran’s potential acquisition of nuclear weapons is a matter of grave concern. Due to the atomic weapons used in WWII and the subsequent development of nuclear weapons, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has expressed concerns regarding the legality and use of nuclear weapons. The world powers feared that Iran’s advanced technology of nuclear power would be used as a weapon against other nations.
Ultimately, after two years of negotiations between the seven countries, on July 2015, a comprehensive agreement known as, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, between Iran and the P5+1 was signed. The purpose of the Nuclear Deal between Iran and P5+1 countries is to limit the uranium enrichment in Iran, prevent the production of atom fuel from plutonium, and impose inspection measures in return for lifting the economic sanctions that were placed on Iran. According to Article XII within the Statute of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the IAEA is authorized to conduct inspections of the nuclear reactor facilities to ensure that these chemical reactors will not be used to further any military purposes.
First we have to examine how uranium is a critical component of nuclear power reactors and atomic bombs. Iran had an enrichment plant constructed at Natanz in which they were secretly conducting uranium enrichment tests. Once Uranium is excavated from the ground (similar to iron), the process of extracting pure uranium from the ore begins, which results in producing uranium oxide. Uranium oxide contains two different types of uranium: U-235 and U-238. Since U-235 is used to make a bomb or fuel a nuclear power plant, it must be separated from U-238. The High tech centrifuge machines begin the uranium enrichment process by spinning uranium gas at an extremely accelerated speed. Once the uranium purification level has reached 5 percent, the gas is turned into powder form used to make fuel. However, if these uranium enrichment facilities continue this purification process until the uranium has reached 90 percent of purity, then instead of fuel, a nuclear bomb or nuclear reactor can be developed. Although the Nuclear Deal did not shut down Iran’s Natanz facility completely, it blocked Iran’s pathway to uranium enrichment by placing restrictions on their activities. Now, Iran will only have the ability to purify other elements, reduce uranium gas, and enrich any uranium at 3.67 percent as opposed to 5 percent or higher.
In addition to uranium, plutonium is another metals that can produce atomic nuclear bombs. Plutonium 239 is “used as a fuel in some nuclear reactors and as an explosive ingredient in nuclear weapons.” Iran’s nuclear reactor facility, near Arak, was converting uranium fuel into weapon like plutonium. The Nuclear Deal aimed to prevent Iran from producing atom bomb fuel from plutonium. The Deal has forced Iran to redesign its Arak reactor facility for at least 15 years in order to produce less than 1 Kilogram a year. Iran has also agreed to not reprocess fuel rods in any other facilities other than the one in Arak.
In order to ensure that Iran is complying with the Nuclear Agreement and not developing a nuclear weapon in secret, international inspectors have developed sophisticated high-technological surveillances to track and provide information regarding Iran’s nuclear activities. In addition to conforming with the terms of the Nuclear agreement for the next 15 years, IAEA surveillances will also continue for the next 25 years and facilities will be monitored for the next 20 years. If Iran does not comply with its obligations, the IAEA’s high-tech surveillance of gadgets and satellite images through fiber-optic seals, sensors, and cameras at every nuclear facility will defect their disobedience. In addition, “infrared satellite imagery can track down hidden reactors, environmental sensors can detect minute signs of nuclear particles, [and] hardened cameras built to withstand tampering and radiation” will be utilized to further monitor Iran’s nuclear activity. Furthermore, all manufacture of centrifuges, nuclear-related machineries, and the conduct of all nuclear scientists/workers will be tracked and scrutinized.
Despite some politicians being opposed to the Nuclear Deal with Iran, this deal is actually a significant breakthrough.According to a recent 2015 technology news article on Re/code, a group of notable and prominent Iranian-American high-tech executives and investors, majority of U.S. diplomats, and American nuclear scientists all support the Nuclear Deal. These supporters argue that advances in technology surveillance is extremely beneficial and solving problems through communication is more effective than going to war. Furthermore, they state that this deal “provides an opportunity for engagement between cultures, people, and ideas. It creates a chance for Americans and Iranians to create a brighter future that benefits all of our children.”
This breakthrough diplomatic agreement is beneficial for Americans and Iranians alike. This deal is a big win for U.S. national security and a best solution available to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon without taking any military action. This historic deal will not only strengthen the relations between Iran and other countries (especially the U.S.) but cuts off Iran’s potential pathways to making a nuclear deal by blocking the enriched uranium at Natanz facility and the weapons-grad plutonium at Arak. The inspectors will utilize their advanced technological instruments to provide accurate validation that Iran is not making a secret nuclear weapon. Iran has provided the IAEA with a greater access and information regarding its nuclear program and agreed to allow inspectors to continue surveillance of centrifuge manufacturing and nuclear facilities. The nuclear deal will also benefit Iran because the sanctions will be lifted from the West and Iran will have the opportunity to open its ancient civilization and rich culture to the rest of the world. Iran’s Nuclear Deal is definitely a step in the right direction towards bettering the Iran-U.S. relations.
Bio: Sayyedeh Parastoo Vakili is a Staff Member of the Journal of High Technology Law. She is currently a 2L at Suffolk Law. She holds a B.S. in Psychology and Sociology, and a M.S. in Crime and Justice Studies (MSCJS) both from Suffolk University.
