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Ambassador of Iran to Cyprus Gave a Seminar in EMU

On 11 December 2013, Business and Economics Faculty Political Science and International Relations Department in conjunction with Iranian Scientific Association and CPC (Cyprus Policy Center) held a seminar entitled “Nuclear development of Iran” at Mehmet Tahiroglu Hall (Blue hall). The guest speaker of the seminar was the ambassador of Iran to Cyprus Ali Akbar Rezaei.

The opening to the seminar was held by the chair of the department of Political Science and International Relations Prof Dr. Ahmet Sözen. The seminar was attended by faculty members and students from different departments of the University.

Ali Akbar Rezaei’s presentation focused on the important developments of the nuclear program in Iran as well as negotiations going on for some time. Rezaei stated that there is now an interim agreement with Iran and the UN Security Council Permanent Members plus Germany (P5+1). Rezaei put forth that Iran became a major power in the region in mid-20th century when the country was rich in gas and oil. Due to its large oil and gas reserves it became a major player in the region. The importance of Iran in the region increased with the inception of the Islamic revolution and the nuclear issue which has become a focus point in the last 10 years. In order to understand the major issue of the nuclear program in Iran, the Rezaei drew the attention on the Treaty of Non-Proliferation of nuclear weapons commonly known as the NPT which consists of non-proliferation, disarmament and the right to peaceful use of nuclear technology.

Rezaei stated that there have been ups and downs in the nuclear issue of Iran in the last 10 years whether against or for Iran to have access to enrich uranium. After 3 rounds of negotiations, they have reached a breakthrough to bring changes to the nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief as well as international respect for the right of Iran to enrich uranium. The agreement was between Iran and the US, UK, France, China, Germany and Russia. The key points in the agreement are that Iran will stop enriching uranium beyond 5% and neutralise its stockpile of uranium enrichment beyond this point. It also states that Iran will give greater access to inspectors including daily access at the nuclear sites. In return there will be no new nuclear related sanctions and a relief of the sanctions they had.

Finally Rezaei talked about how nuclear deal would act as a key in helping the European economic recovery. The EU has interests in finding a way out of the nuclear crisis and even some of these interests defer from the US ones. The EU needs to recover from the Euro crisis and it has two issues at hand. Its energy costs are much higher that the US and it is depended on energy imports and needs diversification. Therefore by solving the nuclear crisis and lifting the oil embargo the EU has a chance of accessing Iran’s natural resources. At the same time it will lower the price of oil while Iran will not be able to increase its oil sells.