The United Nations deadline expires Thursday night, but Tehran is not signaling a change in policy, but is rather carrying on its nuclear program. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad stated earlier in the week that the “lofty program” will continue. He appears to be using every opportunity to ignore the threats and warnings of the US, UN, and international community.
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) officials announced that there are no signs that Iran intends to comply with demands, and that its uranium enrichment is continuing on schedule.
America Remains Firm in Demands for Sanctions
The U.S. administration remains firm in its decision to impose sanctions on Iran, while the European Union is indicating it prefers to maintain diplomatic contacts with Iran in the hope of achieving the goal. America is calling for sanctions as the UN Security Council-imposed deadline runs out. Russia and China are not likely to fall in line with US calls for political and economic sanctions, supporting less harsh measures.
Some analysts believe the entire war in Lebanon launched by Hizbullah was solely to permit Tehran to continue its nuclear program, using the smokescreen of the war in southern Lebanon to divert the world’s attention to another arena. While Iranian-supported Hizbullah forces were fighting in Lebanon, Iran was free to move ahead with efforts to develop a nuclear weapon without the interference of the international community.
The Military Option
Many experts believe that a repeat of Israel’s attack against the Iraqi nuclear facility in 1981 is not possible today. It is claimed that Iran’s nuclear program is spread out among many facilities throughout the country, at least some of which are well protected and underground. Bombing Iranian facilities, experts say, would at best set the program back a number of years, and would not have the same devastating impact the 1981 attack had in Iraq.
In addition, a military strike against Iran might complicate America’s interests, with the USA heavily dependent on Iran’s support for its position in Iraq. Iran has significant influence on Iraq’s Shia leaders. Despite Iraq’s disdain for the Iranians, they do rely on Tehran for funding and weapons. It was Iran which persuaded the Iraqi Shia to take part in the US-led reconstruction.
Iran is reported to have thousands of soldiers and intelligence community officers in Iraq as well, and Tehran has warned the U.S. that if pushed by a military assault against nuclear reactors, these forces may take an active role against American troops operating in Iraq.
Despite Ahmadinejad’s defiant position, experts agree that he is not seeking to isolate himself from the international community, and that the people of Iran are genuinely interested in improving the country’s ailing economy. Iran is thus not interested in facing international sanctions.
Ahmadinejad, however, continues to ignore warnings and threats, insisting his nuclear program is “legitimate,” for medical and research purposes only. But opposition elements have brought the truth to the surface, as have IAEA inspectors. This includes the detection of experimentation with polonium-210, a substance used only in deep-space exploration and nuclear weapons. Iran does not have a deep-space program.
In Jerusalem, military intelligence officials continue to issue warnings, citing Iran as Israel’s number one threat. They say that if permitted to continue, Tehran will not only pose a real danger to Israel, but to global western interests as well. Military experts and politicians from the left and right agree that permitting Iran to reach nuclear independence is not a luxury Israel can afford.
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) officials announced that there are no signs that Iran intends to comply with demands, and that its uranium enrichment is continuing on schedule.
America Remains Firm in Demands for Sanctions
The U.S. administration remains firm in its decision to impose sanctions on Iran, while the European Union is indicating it prefers to maintain diplomatic contacts with Iran in the hope of achieving the goal. America is calling for sanctions as the UN Security Council-imposed deadline runs out. Russia and China are not likely to fall in line with US calls for political and economic sanctions, supporting less harsh measures.
Some analysts believe the entire war in Lebanon launched by Hizbullah was solely to permit Tehran to continue its nuclear program, using the smokescreen of the war in southern Lebanon to divert the world’s attention to another arena. While Iranian-supported Hizbullah forces were fighting in Lebanon, Iran was free to move ahead with efforts to develop a nuclear weapon without the interference of the international community.
The Military Option
Many experts believe that a repeat of Israel’s attack against the Iraqi nuclear facility in 1981 is not possible today. It is claimed that Iran’s nuclear program is spread out among many facilities throughout the country, at least some of which are well protected and underground. Bombing Iranian facilities, experts say, would at best set the program back a number of years, and would not have the same devastating impact the 1981 attack had in Iraq.
In addition, a military strike against Iran might complicate America’s interests, with the USA heavily dependent on Iran’s support for its position in Iraq. Iran has significant influence on Iraq’s Shia leaders. Despite Iraq’s disdain for the Iranians, they do rely on Tehran for funding and weapons. It was Iran which persuaded the Iraqi Shia to take part in the US-led reconstruction.
Iran is reported to have thousands of soldiers and intelligence community officers in Iraq as well, and Tehran has warned the U.S. that if pushed by a military assault against nuclear reactors, these forces may take an active role against American troops operating in Iraq.
Despite Ahmadinejad’s defiant position, experts agree that he is not seeking to isolate himself from the international community, and that the people of Iran are genuinely interested in improving the country’s ailing economy. Iran is thus not interested in facing international sanctions.
Ahmadinejad, however, continues to ignore warnings and threats, insisting his nuclear program is “legitimate,” for medical and research purposes only. But opposition elements have brought the truth to the surface, as have IAEA inspectors. This includes the detection of experimentation with polonium-210, a substance used only in deep-space exploration and nuclear weapons. Iran does not have a deep-space program.
In Jerusalem, military intelligence officials continue to issue warnings, citing Iran as Israel’s number one threat. They say that if permitted to continue, Tehran will not only pose a real danger to Israel, but to global western interests as well. Military experts and politicians from the left and right agree that permitting Iran to reach nuclear independence is not a luxury Israel can afford.