Link to Article:https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/sep/12/iran-agrees-deal-with-un-on-monitoring-of-nuclear-programme
Summary: Recently Iran has agreed to let the United Nation’s nuclear inspectors install new memory cards into the cameras that are located in Iran’s nuclear research facilities. This will allow the UN to monitor Iran’s controversial nuclear program. This could lead to the US lifting its sanctions on Iran. Rafael Grossi, who is the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, made the deal with Iran in Tehran on Sunday following the two hours of negotiations needed to strike the deal. This deal makes it considerably less likely that any European state or the US will attempt to table a motion of censure against Iran. This is a big deal considering in the past Grossi was preparing to report to the IAEA that his previous agreements to monitor the Iranian nuclear program that were agreed upon in February had collapsed. These agreements collapsing and the new Iranian president, Ebrahim Raisi blocking Grossi entry had created high tensions between Iran and the EU. However, following talks between Iranian head of Atomic Energy Association and Grossi, an agreement agreeing that new memory cards would be installed, eased tensions greatly. Much is still unknown about what Iran was doing between the times of these agreements and Grossi is hoping to create relations good enough that they can discuss what was happening in that time.
Analysis: These talks really help show us how dangerous Iran can be if left unchecked. While behind the US and many other European states in regards to technology and weapons they still pose a very real and present threat to America and the world as a whole. With the recent election of a new Iranian President, having the UN begin creating good relations with them will only benefit the UN. With this deal we can simultaneously create relations with the new Iranian president and government as a whole and also keep an eye on what and how well their research is going.
How this Relates to Class: This article really shows us how major actors and how IGOs as a whole work. The UN, an IGO, is concerned about Iran and how their nuclear program is going and how they don’t know much about what it is they are doing or how successful their research is. So they pressure them into an agreement where we can see what they are doing by putting sanctions on them. Iran, another major global actor, wants better relations with the UN and the US, who is putting sanctions on them, so they agree to these deals.