The Lausanne accord a welcome move

The comprehensive framework accord that has been reached between the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) plus Germany (P+I) and Iran at Lausanne of Switzerland on April 02 is a welcome move. Global diplomacy has clicked to a great extent as Iran has made it clear that it would abide by what was agreed upon at Lausanne. The final deal is now expected to be signed by June 30 next. The P+I's framework agreement with Iran, however, is not yet a complete deal. Difficult days of detailed drafting lie ahead. But it provides a framework on the basis of which all parties can now move forward. That, in itself, is an important outcome. The accord, when executed in full, will have a restraining effect on Iran's nuclear programme for some 10 to 15 years. It contains new and important verification provisions to allow international inspectors greater oversight of what Iran is actually doing. If everything goes well, the nuclear deal will help reduce a key source of friction between Iran and the West. The accord, as diplomatic observers have noted, seems to have suited all sides. With all big powers throwing their weight behind the Lausanne framework accord, it is now their responsibility to conduct a probe into hawkish Israel's nuclear armaments that threaten peace and stability, particularly in the Middle East. All must acknowledge that Israel is the Middle East's sole, albeit unacknowledged, nuclear power. Israel had argued relentlessly against a deal that was stuck at Lausanne.  But the US President Barack Obama was right when he said the issues at stake are bigger than politics. These are matters of war and peace, he said, and if the Republican party-controlled Congress kills the agreement, international unity will collapse, and the path to conflict will widen.  
Tehran, punished by western sanctions on it, is apparently ready to honour the framework. Common Iranians, reeling under hyper inflation caused by sanctions, have already greeted the signing of the framework accord. Severe economic problems have the potential to destabilise Iran. That is why Tehran eagerly wants the UN sanctions withdrawn soon after the agreement. The loss of oil revenue, which accounted for a half of government expenditure, and isolation from the international banking system, had caused Iran's currency, the rial, to lose two-thirds of its value against the US dollar and caused inflation to rise to more than 40 per cent, with prices of basic foodstuffs and fuel soaring. Many Iranians, therefore, see the lifting of the sanctions as an essential first step towards improving the country's economy.
Bangladesh has reasons to welcome the comprehensive framework agreement reached at Lausanne. Being a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NNPT), it has taken up, with due approval of the International Atomic Energy Agency, a nuclear power plant at Rooppur to meet its growing power needs. The Western powers should also allow Iran to use nuclear energy for peaceful development purposes and force non-compliant countries, including Israel, to sign the NPT.