Draft agreement on Iran’s uranium

A former Clinton Administration official, Mark Medish gives his reading of the Iran nuclear talks in today’s International Herald Tribune. He says there are only three possible outcomes: a pre-emptive strike, acquiescence and deterrence or a negotiated framework. The last option is the best workable scenario, he says. This could see an agreement whereby Tehran would be allowed to develop all the needed infrastructure but remain “18 months away” from testing.

Several dozen countries, foremost among them Japan, Brazil and South Africa, are in this position today. “If Tehran is interested in what is sometimes called the “Japan option”— maintaining an ability to produce a nuclear weapon on short notice, but not actually testing one— this could present a reasonable opportunity for a negotiated framework,” Medish says.

However all this comes down to trust and if trust between the United States and Iran is near zero, trust between Israel and Iran is sub-zero. Medish says Israel could start a war against Iran, but it is doubtful Israel could finish such a war. He suspects that Israel is making a lot of noise as part of a strategy to force Iran into the so-called negotiated framework.

The Jerusalem Post also leads with the Iran nuclear talks, saying that “Israel is remaining quiet for now.” However, the country’s Deputy Defense Minister, Matan Vilna’i, did say that international pressure is working but it must continue so that Teheran will not have a bomb.

Other stories covered in today’s international papers:

The Guardian
BBC is right to allow BNP on Question Time says Mark Thompson

This evening’s BBC interview with the leader of the far-right British National Party has caused a stir in the UK in the past few weeks. The Director General of the BBC defends the decision to interview Nick Griffin.

The Independent
BBC will lose trust for giving airtime to BNP

The Times
A new book by New York Times columnist Andrew Ross Sorkin alleges that former Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson crossed the line on several occasions, abusing his position to benefit his former firm, Goldman Sachs.

The Daily Mail

The right-leaning Daily Mail calls France’s deportation of three Afghans “pitiful”, saying promises had been given to British authorities that hundreds would be deported. Most of these migrants were hoping to gain access to the UK.

The Independent
“Womb transplants within two years”

British scientists have worked out how to transplant a womb with a good blood supply which could mean it lasts long enough to carry a pregnancy to term.