Iran Nuclear Talks, Complicated & Complex
Today, 24 November 2014 is the scheduled deadline “…to end a decade-old crisis over Iran’s nuclear program.” Reports should be interesting to SCP course participants, because of the use of similar language in what is clearly a complex problem. Why is it complex?
First, “…world powers suspect Iran has not been honest about its nuclear program and is seeking the ability to build a nuclear bomb.” But Iran argues their nuclear power programs are intended to meet Iran’s future power needs: “…there must be sufficient enrichment capacity to produce fuel for the Bushehr power plant when the reactor’s fuel supply agreement with Russia expires in 2021.” Sounds like an example of actors with intractable positions.
EU foreign policy chief Baroness Catherine Ashton […] briefly met Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammed Javad Zarif for a conversation that Iran’s official Irna news agency described as “complicated and tough”.
A senior US government official also played down expectations, saying it would be a “complicated, difficult and lengthy process”.
Mr Fitzpatrick believes that because of the complexity of the remaining issues the talks will continue beyond July.
Diplomats warned from the start of the negotiations on a comprehensive nuclear accord that they would be complex and that significant gaps remained between Iran and the P5+1..
I truly enjoy understanding language. SCP has added a new level of discernment to my capacity of interpretation. What is communicated about negotiations reported as “complex”? Logistically? Informationally? Or are the issues so intractable for the parties involved the very mention of the topic closes-off the solution space?
As a reader of news I can now ask myself, Do the participants understand complex & complicated problems? Does the journalist?
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