Nuclear Standoff

Iran appears to have perfected the art of hostage taking into an effective instrument of its foreign policy. Iran’s seizure of 15 British sailors and marines in the wake of the U.N. sanctions imposed because of its nuclear program is a demonstration of the perfected art of hostage taking Iran taught Hezbollah in Lebanon. British and American journalists and clergy were kidnapped at gunpoint in Lebanon in the 80s and released for a price. Hezbollah’s cross border incursion into Israel to seize Israeli soldiers triggered the invasion of Lebanon by Israel in 2006. What is America to do? Help Britain attack Iran?

Iran has made it clear that no one can prevent it from having a peaceful nuclear program. The Iran nuclear issue can only be comprehensively addressed through face to face negotiations between Iran, America and Europe. America and Iran have to come out of the diplomatic and economic wilderness they have been in for the last 27 years, establish diplomatic relations and start a direct dialogue on how to resolve the nuclear dispute with a solution that allows Iran to develop nuclear power for peaceful means. Burying the past is the key to better future U.S.-Iran relations. To expect the world’s fourth largest oil exporter to abandon its right to nuclear technology is delusional.

Iran was one of the first countries to sign the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty concluded in 1968, and co-operated with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for more than 30 years. America’s aim to force Iran to give up uranium enrichment is in breach of the NPT which clearly states that any signatory country that gives up nuclear weapons and accepts the IAEA’s absolute and unconditional control is entitled to produce electric energy from civil nuclear sources, and to receive from the international community, if necessary, technical and financial support. Iran’s oil resources are finite and it must develop and control the nuclear power to generate the energy ─ a basic right as an NPT signatory.

Iran has said it has enriched uranium to 4.8 per cent as of the late summer of 2006, far below the more than 90 percent level needed for a bomb. Iran hopes to reach a level of 20 per cent to fuel a light water reactor it plans to build. Iran is adamant that it is enriching uranium solely to generate electricity. America and Israel are convinced Iran’s nuclear program is a front for building atom bombs. Iran did pursue a clandestine nuclear program for 18 years until it was uncovered by the International Atomic Agency in 2003. All the more reason America and Iran must sit down and talk to each other directly.