The permanent members of the Security Council plus Germany and Iran are scheduled to hold a second round of discussions over Iran's nuclear program on Jan. 21-22 in Istanbul. This second round of talks comes in the wake of increased reports that a combination of sanctions and technological set-backs have slowed down the Iranian nuclear program buying more time for negotiations.
As a tool for providing leverage these measures may have improved the international community's negotiating position but all these reports have provided little new light on the outlines of a negotiated agreement that could satisfy both parties' core interests.
To address this important issue and provide a context for the discussions underway, the Arms Control Association is hosting a discussion this Thursday, January 20, 2010, 9:30, at the Carnegie Endowment with Barry Blechman, chair of the Stimson-U.S. Institute of Peace joint study group on Engagement, Coercion, and Iran's Nuclear Challenge; Charles Ferguson, President of the Federation of American Scientists; and Greg Thielmann, ACA Senior Fellow. The session will be moderated by ACA Executive Director Daryl G. Kimball.
Stay tuned as the panel addresses key questions such as:
- How can the Istanbul talks contribute to progress toward a negotiated agreement?
- What are the key elements and steps of such a deal?
- What kind of ongoing verification and monitoring regime will be necessary to address concerns about secret Iranian uranium enrichment?
To register, please RSVP to [email protected]; A complete transcript will be made available on ACA's website after the event.