Canada PoliticsCanada “deeply skeptical” about historic nuclear deal with Iran: John Baird
You can count Canada on the list of countries that are not convinced about the efficacy of this weekend's historic nuclear deal in the middle east.
Early Sunday, the so-called P5 (the United States, Russia, China, Germany, France and the U.K.) signed an agreement with Iran that provides that country with about $7-billion in relief from international sanctions in exchange for Iran's promise to curb expansion of its uranium enrichment program and its Arak reactor.
It's a short-term deal: giving the two sides six months to come up with a more comprehensive solution.
U.S. President Barack Obama called it an important first step.
"There are substantial limitations which will help prevent Iran from building a nuclear weapon. Simply put, they cut off Iran's most likely paths to a bomb," the President said during a late Saturday night press conference.
"[If] Iran does not fully meet its commitments during this six-month phase, we will turn off the [sanctions] relief, and ratchet up the pressure."
[ Related: Ottawa taking a wait-and-see approach to the nuclear deal with Iran ]
But Canada isn't sold.
During his afternoon press conference, Sunday, Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird said that Canada is "deeply skeptical" about Iran's intentions.
"Every diplomatic should be taken to ensure that Iran never obtains a nuclear weapon. We appreciate the earnest efforts of the P5+1.
Effective sanctions have brought the regime to present a more moderate front and open the door to negotiations. Today's deal cannot be abused or undermined by further depiction. The Iranian people deserve the freedom and prosperity that they have been denied for all to long by the regime's nuclear ambitions.
Until then Canadian sanctions will remain tough and will remain in full force. A nuclear Iran is not just a threat to Canada or its allies but it would also seriously damage the integrity of decades of work for nuclear non proliferation. It would provoke other neighbouring states to develop their own nuclear deterrent in what is already an incredibly volatile region.
On yesterday's agreement...we will evaluate this deal not just on the merits of its words but more importantly on its verifiable implementation and unfettered access of all Iranian nuclear facilities.
Israel — Canada's biggest ally in the middle east — also has reservations about the deal.
According to the Associated Press, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the deal meant that the world had actually become a "more dangerous place."
Israel views any enrichment as unacceptable, saying making low-level enriched uranium weapons grade is relatively simple. It demands all enrichment be halted, and that Iran's abilities to produce uranium be rolled back.
Netanyahu had also called for economic sanctions to be increased. Israel fears that Iran will use the diplomatic process as cover to trick the international community, much the way North Korea did in its march toward a nuclear bomb.
Netanyahu, according to AP, "reiterated a long-standing threat to use military action against Iran if needed, declaring that Israel 'has the right and the duty to defend itself by itself.'"
Baird said he understands Netanyahu's tough stance.
"Prime Minister Netanyahu...leads a country which previous leaders of Iran -- mere months ago -- have said they want to wipe off the face of the earth. So understandably, they're deeply concerned," Baird said.
"Obviously we're deeply skeptical of this deal. We're deeply skeptical of Iran and its ability to honour its obligations. I think the sanctions have been effective and have worked and have brought us to this stage and we'll watch closely the coming weeks and months."
[ Related: John Baird pens tough-talk missive directed at the Iranian regime ]
The Harper government and the Iranian regime have had an adversarial relationship for the past several years. Citing Iran's nuclear program, its assistance to the government of Syria and its hostility towards Israel, the Harper government has publicly chided the regime, have shuddered their embassy in Iran and, earlier this year, said it would enforce a total trade ban on Iranian goods.
And, while Iran's new president president — Hassan Rouhani — has won accolades from other countries -- Baird recently fired a verbal missive at him in the form of an open letter published in the National Post.
We do not have the luxury of being naïve. Nor do the Iranian people, who have suffered for far too long. Standing in front of cameras and tweeting about change are all too easy. The hard part is following through, making difficult decisions and undertaking meaningful change. We must judge the Iranian government by its deeds, not its words.
...by any measure, these deeds have fallen short.
We know that Iran’s human rights record is deeply troubling and that these abuses are continuing. Women continue to face serious discrimination. Iran’s ethnic and religious minorities also continue to face disproportionate discrimination, as well as harassment by authorities. More than 100 members of the Bahá‘í faith alone remain imprisoned on charges related to practising and organizing for their religion, and advocating for their rights.
Our skepticism regarding Iran is drawn from seeing decades of inaction on issues such as these.
(Photo courtesy of the Canadian Press)
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