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Iran’s Additional Protocol concerns need not stop deal

Iran has little to worry about in agreeing to enforce the NPT Additional Protocol, with resources like "managed access" and precedents for dispute resolution from other countries.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry (C), Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman, National Security Council point person on the Middle East Robert Malley (front L) and Chief of Staff Jon Finer (R) meet on the terrace of a hotel where the Iran nuclear talks meetings are being held in Vienna, Austria July 2, 2015. Iran's stockpile of low-enriched uranium gas dropped below the maximum level required under a 2013 interim nuclear agreement with world powers, a U.N. report showed, but a U.S. t
US Secretary of State John Kerry meets with advisers to discuss the progress of the negotiations on Iran's nuclear program in Vienna, Austria, July 2, 2015. — REUTERS/Carlos Barria

Is the Additional Protocol to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty a dangerous one? Will Iran be faced with unforeseen demands by the International Atomic Energy Agency if it agrees to it? The short legal answer to both of these questions is no.

These are the final days of negotiations between Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany (P5+1). These negotiations will determine the fate of Iran’s comprehensive nuclear agreement, and it is obvious from the tone of senior Iranian officials, President Hassan Rouhani included, that with this agreement Iran will once again, after almost 10 years, voluntarily agree to enforce the Additional Protocol.

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