# Nuclear deal with Iran **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [July 14, 2015, 11:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-deal-with-iran/725128 "2015-07-14T11:37:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 56
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2015, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-deal-with-iran/725128/1101 "2015-09-11T16:37:21Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > Suppose those dastardly Iranians decide to enrich bomb-grade uranium and stockpile it somewhere (in a mine shaft). It has been consistently reported that if the Iranians resume enrichment under the deal, the U.S. intelligence community expects to discover it. Sure, they’ve been wrong before, but I don’t think you realize what is involved in what you propose. To enrich uranium, you need ore. Hundreds and hundreds of tons of it. Under this agreement, those facilities will be monitored. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2015, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-deal-with-iran/725128/1102 "2015-09-11T16:40:07Z")
That’s where all the yellowcake went, Saddam gave it to his buds, Iran! Connect the dot, people! ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2015, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-deal-with-iran/725128/1103 "2015-09-11T16:54:08Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > Suppose those dastardly Iranians decide to enrich bomb-grade uranium and stockpile it somewhere (in a mine shaft). They prepare the molds and build everything necessary to have a bomb-how would anybody know? Then the time comes, and a few months later, they have 200+ nuclear warheads (ready to put on their missiles)-what then? I guess when that implausible scenario happens, we’ll simply counter with Superman, our Iranian nuclear deterrence. Oh, what if Superman’s busy? Then Wonder Woman, that’ll make those theocrats’ heads spin! ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2015, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-deal-with-iran/725128/1104 "2015-09-11T18:37:55Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > That’s where all the yellowcake went, Saddam gave it to his buds, Iran! Connect the dot, people! Now you’ve reminded me of [this](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r7T9gicSnR0), especially the part from 1:50 onwards. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2015, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-deal-with-iran/725128/1105 "2015-09-11T19:31:57Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > …I’ve never heard of Moniz before. Is that bad?.. Given his unusual hair, I certainly think so: > **[Ernest Moniz](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernest_Moniz)** > > Ernest Jeffrey Moniz, GCIH (.mw-parser-output .IPA-label-small{font-size:85%}.mw-parser-output .references .IPA-label-small,.mw-parser-output .infobox .IPA-label-small,.mw-parser-output .navbox .IPA-label-small{font-size:100%}Portuguese: \[muˈniʃ\]; born December 22, 1944) is an American nuclear physicist and former government official. From May 2013 to January 2017, he served as the 13th United States secretary of energy in the Obama administration. Prior to this, Moniz served as associate d Mon... > **[Not My Job: Secretary Of Energy Ernest Moniz Gets Quizzed On Bert](https://www.npr.org/2015/08/22/433515469/not-my-job-secretary-of-energy-ernest-moniz-gets-quizzed-on-bert)** > > If he's not known as Ernie, than he should be, so we've invited him to play a game called "Ernie, meet Bert." Originally broadcast Oct. 4, 2014. ---
**Author:** ![Nema98](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d2c977/32.png) [@Nema98](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nema98)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2015, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-deal-with-iran/725128/1106 "2015-09-11T23:15:28Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Given his unusual hair, I certainly think so: > > [Ernest Moniz - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernest_Moniz) > [Not My Job: Secretary Of Energy Ernest Moniz Gets Quizzed On Bert : NPR](http://www.npr.org/2015/08/22/433515469/not-my-job-secretary-of-energy-ernest-moniz-gets-quizzed-on-bert) Ernest Moniz reminds of a modern relic of the 1700’s, an actual founding father who somehow managed to survive till now. ---
**Author:** ![Nema98](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d2c977/32.png) [@Nema98](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nema98)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2015, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-deal-with-iran/725128/1107 "2015-09-11T23:18:01Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Sounds like it wasn’t just the White House twisting arms. > > I’ve never heard of Moniz before. Is that bad? > > How would we know about the thousands of centrifuges they’d need to enrich enough uranium to build nukes? Oh, I think we might notice. The question about Ernest Moniz really cracks me up. No it is a “he”, not “it”, and he was is our Energy Secretary who negotiated the energy side of the issue for us. Trust me, he is nothing bad.:p;)😃 ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2015, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-deal-with-iran/725128/1108 "2015-09-13T17:18:29Z")
I think the “that” for **RNATB** was the fact of not having heard of him, not Moniz himself. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2015, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-deal-with-iran/725128/1109 "2015-09-14T14:32:06Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > It has been consistently reported that if the Iranians resume enrichment under the deal, the U.S. intelligence community expects to discover it. Sure, they’ve been wrong before, but I don’t think you realize what is involved in what you propose. > > To enrich uranium, you need ore. Hundreds and hundreds of tons of it. Under this agreement, those facilities will be monitored. Other countries aren’t going to take enforcement action against Iran based on “the US intelligence community”. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2015, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-deal-with-iran/725128/1110 "2015-09-14T14:40:35Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Other countries aren’t going to take enforcement action against Iran based on “the US intelligence community”. Most other countries have official languages that aren’t English. Many times they eat crazy food. Some countries have squat toilets. What do those comments have to do with your post? They are about as relevant as your response to my post. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2015, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-deal-with-iran/725128/1111 "2015-09-14T14:47:50Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Given his unusual hair, I certainly think so: > > [Ernest Moniz - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernest_Moniz) > [Not My Job: Secretary Of Energy Ernest Moniz Gets Quizzed On Bert : NPR](http://www.npr.org/2015/08/22/433515469/not-my-job-secretary-of-energy-ernest-moniz-gets-quizzed-on-bert) … I have a new hero, and a new goal in life. 😃 > [@Nema98](#): > > The question about Ernest Moniz really cracks me up. No it is a “he”, not “it”, and he was is our Energy Secretary who negotiated the energy side of the issue for us. Trust me, he is nothing bad.:p;)😃 > [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > I think the “that” for **RNATB** was the fact of not having heard of him, not Moniz himself. Yeah, I’m not _that_ disengaged. > [@adaher](#): > > Other countries aren’t going to take enforcement action against Iran based on “the US intelligence community”. You’ve been advocating unilateral US sanctions for this whole thread. It’s rather disingenuous to now suggest that unilateral US enforcement is insufficient (even assuming that other countries would have to take our word for it, as it were). ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2015, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-deal-with-iran/725128/1112 "2015-09-14T14:53:47Z")
I didn’t say it wasn’t, just that “snapback” only really applies to us. The US is being sane when it comes to letting companies back into Iran. Europe is in a headlong rush to resume business. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2015, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-deal-with-iran/725128/1113 "2015-09-14T15:30:11Z")
So, is that a reason _not_ to support the agreement, or to get it done while we still can? ---
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2015, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-deal-with-iran/725128/1114 "2015-09-14T20:48:10Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > So, is that a reason _not_ to support the agreement, or to get it done while we still can? But… Obama! ---
**Author:** ![Steken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@Steken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steken)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 7:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-deal-with-iran/725128/1115 "2015-10-13T07:39:23Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > The legally non-binding executive agreement has already been signed. It just has to be officially accepted by all parties. We and Europe are no longer in doubt, so the ball is in Iran’s court, and they have not made their decision yet. The President of Iran wants to avoid an assembly vote and Iran’s Supreme Leader has not yet committed. [The Iranians have voted.](http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-34513363) With 161 in favour, 59 against and 13 abstentions, the country’s parliament - the _majlis_ - has approved the deal. Pop the (non-alcoholic) champagne. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2016, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-deal-with-iran/725128/1116 "2016-01-16T21:44:38Z")
**Update:** The IAEA has certified that Iran has complied with its part in the nuclear deal. Obama, as of a few minutes ago, and signed the order to lift sanctions from Iran and unfreezing about $100 billion worth of assets Iran has overseas. Personally, I think this is wonderful. I believe now that Obama has retroactively earned that Nobel Peace prize he received as a Norweigian “Fuck You!” to Bush 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Grsz11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Grsz11](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grsz11)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2016, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-deal-with-iran/725128/1117 "2016-01-17T03:30:20Z")
Not to mention a release of prisoners, including a Washington Post reporter, a minister, and a former Marine. No doubt this process was ongoing this week during the Navy situation, which made those negotiations very important ---
**Author:** ![Steken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@Steken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steken)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2016, 10:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-deal-with-iran/725128/1118 "2016-01-17T10:41:48Z")
Great news. Nobel Prizes to the negotiators - on all sides - seems a given. ---
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2016, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-deal-with-iran/725128/1119 "2016-01-17T12:04:14Z")
> [@Grsz11](#): > > Not to mention a release of prisoners, including a Washington Post reporter, a minister, and a former Marine. No doubt this process was ongoing this week during the Navy situation, which made those negotiations very important Yeah, but Trump or Cruz could have gotten them (or their bodies) back quicker, with only 10,000 dead Americans and 1,000,000 dead Iranians. And a trillion dollars. But Halliburton would raise its dividend, so there’s that. ---
**Author:** ![Steken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@Steken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steken)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2017, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-deal-with-iran/725128/1120 "2017-09-21T13:20:48Z")
So it looks like the Americans may be on the verge of backing out of the deal. Meanwhile, the other parties (i.e. Germany, France, Britain, Russia and China) want to keep the deal in place, as does Japan, India and a ton of other countries. The reason, I suppose, is simple enough: Iran is complying - and trade is booming. My question is: If the Americans do indeed decide to pull out (I suppose we’ll find out soon enough), do you expect them to be able to convince anyone to follow suit? Not the Russians, I expect, nor the Chinese - but perhaps some of the more, ah, impressionable European countries may go along…? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-deal-with-iran/725128.md?page=55) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-deal-with-iran/725128.md?page=57)