Obama refuses to recognize Iran nuclear right: US analysts

US President Barack Obama persistently refuses to recognize Iran’s legal nuclear rights, two analysts say, noting that it has scuttled an agreement on the Islamic Republic’s nuclear issue.

In an article published on goingtotehran.com, Flynt Leverett and Hillary Mann Leverett blamed the Obama administration for its “imperious refusal to acknowledge Tehran’s right to enrich uranium under international safeguards.”

They noted that Washington’s disregard for Iran’s sovereign nuclear rights killed the chance of a nuclear deal in last week’s Geneva talks between Tehran and six world powers.

“The Obama administration’s hegemonically abusive refusal to recognize Iran’s right to safeguarded enrichment is not just diplomatically and strategically counter-productive-it is illegal,” they wrote.

In their article, the Levretts cited articles of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) which authorize signatories, including Iran, to exercise nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.

They said the “UN Security Council Resolution 1696, which commands Iran to cease uranium enrichment, constitutes a violation of international law.”

The closed-door talks between Iran and the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council — the United States, China, Russia, France and Britain — plus Germany began in Geneva, Switzerland, on Thursday and ended in the early hours of Sunday.

The two sides could not reach a deal in Geneva, but stressed that significant progress had been made and expressed optimism about the prospect of achieving a deal. The two sides agreed to continue negotiations on November 20 in the same venue.

“The recognition by over 190 states parties to the NPT that all states have such an inalienable right… to include all elements of the full nuclear fuel cycle including uranium enrichment, strongly suggests that the right to peaceful nuclear energy research, production and use is one of the fundamental rights of states in international law,” noted the Levretts.