Global Security Newswire

Supporters of a tentative U.S. nuclear trade agreement with the United Arab Emirates hope the deal could be used as a model to persuade Iran to curb its controversial nuclear activities, the Christian Science Monitor reported today (see GSN, Dec. 16).

While details have reportedly been finalized, the deal remains unsigned as Abu Dhabi has sought delays in order to assess the stances of President-elect Barack Obama and the U.S. Congress, according to the Monitor. The agreement would enable the United States to sell nuclear power technology to the Gulf nation, which has agreed to forgo building any nuclear fuel production plants. Such facilities, such as the uranium enrichment centrifuge plants under construction in Iran, can be also be used to manufacture nuclear-weapon materials.

"In a way the (UAE) agreement presents itself as an attractive alternative path for nuclear development plans," said Michael Hudson, head of Georgetown University's Center for Contemporary Arab Studies. "The Iranians could look over and see that the U.S. and international agencies are OK with this technology coming to the Gulf, as long as it's under the right controls. It could offer a way to get beyond how this has become a core national issue for them."

However, some critics of trade deal have expressed concern about Abu Dhabi's close economic and political ties to Tehran and have demanded assurances that the Emirates is not aiding illicit Iranian activities.

"Any (nuclear cooperation) agreement between the United States and the UAE should not be submitted to Congress until, at a minimum, the UAE has addressed the critical issue of transshipments and diversion of sensitive technologies to Iran," said Representative Brad Sherman (D-Calif.), chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade Subcommittee

The deal has drawn concern from Republicans as well (see GSN, Dec. 10).

"We've been told by the State Department that the UAE has already reformed and put in all kinds of oversights and controls, but we'd like to see a track record before even thinking about a nuclear cooperation deal with them," said one Republican congressional aide. "Nuclearizing the Persian Gulf is not something we should be rushing into."

One nonproliferation expert said the Emirates could be used for better leverage against Iran's nuclear ambitions.

"We need to remember that everything the Iranian regime needs to hold on to power goes through the UAE," said Henry Sokolski, executive director of the Nonproliferation Policy Education Center. "We shouldn't just give up the opportunity to put the squeeze on Iran and to make some headway on a nuclear problem in the region that is everyone's concern" (Howard Lafranchi, Christian Science Monitor, Dec. 23).