Fareed Zakaria, "Dear Sen. Schumer: Don’t vote against the Iran nuclear deal": Will WaPo Issue a Correction?

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In his latest Washington Post opinion piece entitled "Dear Sen. Schumer: Don’t vote against the Iran nuclear deal," Fareed Zakaria writes that pursuant to the nuclear agreement with Iran:

"Iran must destroy 98 percent of its enriched uranium and all of its 5 percent to 20 percent enriched uranium."

In support of his contention, Zakaria cites "The Iran Nuclear Deal, A Definitive Guide" by the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs. However, the Belfer Center does not speak of "destruction" of "98 percent of [Iran's] enriched uranium and all of its 5 percent to 20 percent enriched uranium." Rather, its "Definitive Guide" informs us:

"The JCPOA limits Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium. For 15 years, Iran will maintain a total stockpile of no more than 300 kg of LEU, whether as UF6 or other chemical forms. Excess enriched uranium—nearly 12 tons of LEU in various chemical forms at present—will be down-blended to natural uranium or sold on the international market in exchange for natural uranium.

. . . .

After 15 years, all physical restraints on enrichment are removed, including numbers and types of centrifuge machines, enrichment levels, locations for enrichment facilities, and stocks of enriched uranium."

There is an enormous difference between "destruction," as claimed by Zakaria, and "down-blending" or sale in exchange for natural uranium, which of course can be enriched, as stated by the Belfer Center. Moreover, there is no mention by Zakaria that after 15 years there will be no restraints on Iran's stocks of enriched uranium or restrictions on its use of advanced centrifuges.

I have asked The Washington Post to correct Zakaria's opinion piece. Stay tuned . . .