THE HINDU Editorial Vocabulary - June 7, 2018 - Topic 2

Defend the deal: on Iran nuclear deal

Iran’s notification to the UN that it would launch a plan to increase its uranium enrichment capacity illustrates the risks associated with the U.S. withdrawal from the nuclear deal last month. The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, reached among the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, besides Germany, the European Union and Iran, in 2015, curtailed Tehran’s nuclear programme in return for the lifting of international sanctions. But after President Donald Trump withdrew the U.S. from the agreement and threatened to impose new sanctions on Iran, its survival is in question. 

For now, the other signatories say they remain committed to the agreement. But almost a month after Mr. Trump announced his decision, they are yet to come up with a framework to salvage the deal. The latest Iranian announcement is perhaps aimed at turning the heat up on European powers to come up with guarantees that the deal’s benefits will be in place even with U.S. sanctions. According to the deal, Iran can enrich uranium, but under tight restrictions. Iran now says it would open a centre for the production of new centrifuges at its Natanz facility, which could be used for enrichment. Tehran could argue that it is not technically violating the agreement as long as it does not produce centrifuges. But the move to open a production facility, that too soon after Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called for preparations to speed up uranium enrichment, could be seen as a provocative step by the remaining parties to the agreement.

Instead of such posturing, both Iran and Europe would do well to shift their focus to preserving the integrity of the agreement. If Europe remains politically committed to the agreement as it claims, there have to be proper measures to circumvent the impact of U.S. sanctions. It is not yet clear whether European companies will make any significant investments in Iran, or even continue to do business in the country, once U.S. sanctions start targeting them. Earlier, European countries had discussed providing companies that do business with Iran special financing from the European Investment Bank and passing legislation to protect them from U.S. sanctions — but no decision has been taken so far. The EU says it can create conditions for Iran to continue to benefit from the deal but is wary of giving any guarantee. Iran has made it clear that the U.S. withdrawal should not affect its oil exports and access to the SWIFT international bank payments messaging system. The way forward is to continue a dialogue to find an economic and legislative package that would shield European companies and Iranian economic interests from U.S. sanctions. For that, Europe has to assure Iran it will stand up to U.S. pressure, as Iran remains cooperative and compliant with the terms of the 2015 agreement.

Vocabulary

Illustrate: provide a book, newspaper, etc. With pictures.

Example: The guide is illustrated with full-color photographs

Synonyms: decorate, adorn, ornament, accompany, embellish, add pictures/drawings to

Threatened: state one's intention to take hostile action against someone in retribution for something done or not done

Example: The unions threatened a general strike

Synonyms: menace, intimidate, browbeat, bully, blackmail, terrorize, make/issue threats to

Salvage: the rescue of a wrecked or disabled ship or its cargo from loss at sea.

Example: A salvage operation was under way

Synonyms: rescue, recovery, reclamation

Enrich: improve or enhance the quality or value of.

Example: Her exposure to museums enriched her life in France

Synonyms: enhance, improve, better, augment, supplement, complement

Provocative: causing annoyance, anger, or another strong reaction, especially deliberately.

Example: A provocative article

Synonyms: annoying, irritating, exasperating, infuriating, maddening, vexing

Preserve: maintain something in its original or existing state.

Example: All records of the past were zealously preserved

Synonyms: conserve, protect, maintain, care for, look after

Dialogue: conversation between two or more people as a feature of a book, play, or movie.

Example: The book consisted of a series of dialogues

Synonyms: conversation, talk, discussion, interchange, discourse, chat

Assure: tell someone something positively or confidently to dispel any doubts they may have.

Example: Tony assured me that there was a supermarket in the village

Synonyms: reassure, convince, satisfy, persuade, guarantee, promise, tell

Compliant: inclined to agree with others or obey rules, especially to an excessive degree; acquiescent.

Example: Good-humored, eagerly compliant girls

Synonyms: acquiescent, amenable, biddable, tractable, complaisant, accommodating