Turkey, Brazil back in business for Iran nuclear swap deal

The three ministers have reaffirmed that “Diplomacy is the first and only way out,” to the dispute between major powers and Iran over the latter's controversial nuclear program, Davutoğlu told reporters, speaking after a lunch meeting with Brazilian Foreign Minister Celso Amorim and Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki.

“The Tehran agreement is a declaration which constitutes a very strong instrument for the resolution of the issue. It is still providing a basis for a positive contribution [to the process regarding the nuclear dispute.],” Davutoğlu said, referring to the deal reached in Tehran under which Iran agreed to send some of its uranium abroad, reviving a plan drafted by the United Nations, with the aim of keeping its nuclear work in check.

“Mr. Mottaki informed Mr. Amorim and myself that Iran will tomorrow [Monday] convey its letter to [the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency/IAEA] Mr. Yukiya Amono, intended to respond to questions posed by the Vienna Group,” he said, in remarks aired live on NTV news channel.

Mobilization vis-à-vis the fuel swap deal through the trilateral meeting in İstanbul came at a time when some international media suggested reluctance on the side of Brazil to become involved in further negotiations on the issue, while also controversial reports were posted from Washington claiming that the US administration requested that Turkey stay out of international efforts to resolve the Iran deadlock. Both Ankara and Washington denied such a request, with the latter saying that Ankara and Washington have a “mutual understanding” regarding the course of affairs concerning international efforts to resolve the dispute on Iran’s nuclear program and what the next step should be within this process.

The accord failed to prevent intensified sanctions from the United Nations, European Union and United States adopted over the past two months. The Security Council imposed a fourth round of sanctions on Iran on June 9, which Brazil and Turkey voted against, angry at the West’s dismissal of their deal which they said made new sanctions unnecessary. Within days after the signing of the deal, Iran had officially notified the IAEA on May 24, of its nuclear fuel swap declaration with Turkey and Brazil. On June 9, IAEA chief Amono received a letter from France, Russia and the US posing some questions and conveyed it to Iran.

Ankara indicated that the Turkey has urged Iran to have a positive tone in its response letter to the Vienna Group -- comprising the US, France, Russia and the IAEA.

“We hope that both this [Iran’s] letter and the process initiated by it will pave the way,” for a diplomatic solution to the overall dispute, Davutoğlu said.

Underlining that there are two tracks regarding Iran’s nuclear issue, one being the Tehran fuel swap deal and the other being the negotiation process between Iran and the P5+1 (the five permanent members of the Security Council plus Germany) over the former’s nuclear program, Davutoğlu more than once stressed that the role being played by Brazil and Turkey was a “facilitator” role.

In relation to the two countries’ possible involvement in both tracks in the upcoming period, Davutoğlu stated that Turkey would be pleased to exert “facilitating” efforts only if all parties in the dispute request such involvement.

Regarding the process between Tehran and the P5+1, Davutoğlu said Mottaki had reaffirmed his country’s willingness for talks with the European Union about its nuclear program after the end of the holy month of Ramadan, probably in the first half of September.

Catherine Ashton, the EU’s foreign affairs chief, wrote to Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili last month inviting him to resume negotiations.

İstanbul is likely to be the venue for the meeting between Ashton and Jalili as there is a broad consensus for having the meeting there, Davutoğlu said, adding: “As we have always been, we would only be glad to be the address for any diplomatic solution.”