Score one for Iran after the announcement that Tehran's diplomats had concluded a deal last week with Brazil and Turkey, under which Iran will ship some of the country's enriched uranium to Turkey in exchange for further enriched uranium. That move is supposed to demonstrate Iran's readiness for a diplomatic solution to the controversy surrounding its nuclear program, blunt the drive to tighten sanctions on Iran at the United Nations, and showcase Brazilian and Turkish diplomatic prowess.
The deal does not solve the nuclear controversy; it does, however, put the rest of the world in a difficult position.
Questions swirl around Iran's nuclear ambitions. While Tehran insists it only seeks a peaceful program, it has repeatedly failed to reveal parts of its program such as hidden facilities. Explanations for its drive to acquire enrichment capabilities do not square with an ostensibly civilian program. Most experts believe it is only a matter of time before Iran has the capability to build a bomb; its behavior to date — belligerent rhetoric and begrudging revelations of its capacity — suggest an intention to do so.