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QUESTION: BBC Persian, Bahman Kalbasi here. If you don’t mind just – possible to elaborate on where the fault lines really are right now versus – West versus the non-alliance movement, on the Additional Protocol? How much is that a problem, and especially vis-a-vis Iran? And where is the relationship between – how do these negotiations of P5+1 with Iran goes in regards to the paraphrasing or the interpretation of whether or not enrichment is part of the rights of the nations?

What are – how much do these affect each other if you – I know these are broad questions but especially on – the Persian Gulf’s security is – in Arab countries in Persian Gulf and Iran have been talking about the future of NPT. And so the question really is: How much that those conversations with Iran can affect – if there is a deal, then next year would be a very different picture than if there isn’t. Wouldn’t you agree with that? And if so, how much enrichment could be at the center of this?

ASSISTANT SECRETARY COUNTRYMAN: Mm-hmm. Well, first, let’s be clear that I will not speak about the 5+1 negotiations with Iran or make any projection about their chances for success. There are other U.S. spokesmen who can speak to that.

I will say that we have reached the point of meaningful, serious negotiations between Iran and the 5+1, because the international community has shown a great degree of unity in insisting that Iran live up to its obligations under the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. That is a success of this treaty. And if and when we get to an agreement between Iran and the six parties, the 5+1, I think it will be a further success for the Nonproliferation Treaty.

Now, the issues that are being discussed in negotiations with Iran, such as enrichment, are often presented as rights, as theoretical rights possessed by members of the NPT. That’s not the way we read the treaty. We can’t find a right to enrichment anywhere in the Nonproliferation Treaty. But the negotiations are not, from our perspective, about rights. They are about practical solutions that can reassure the world of Iran’s intentions and capabilities, and that would strengthen the NPT.

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