A friend mentioned to me, after reading the Iran Talking points below, that they did not entirely understand what I meant. I realize that I had not stated the points about Iran’s relationship with the IAEA Very clearly. So, here is a clarification.
“IAEA” stands for the International Atomic Energy Agency. They are an agency of the United Nations with oversight over international nuclear policy, and in particular, they deal with issues related to nuclear non-proliferation and the International Non-Proliferation Treaty. In signing the treaty, nations state that, if they don’t already have nuclear weapons, they won’t develop them, and if they do have them, they will not build any new ones, will, over time, reduce their current stockpiles of nukes. In return, the IAEA will help nations to develop nuclear power for peaceful purposes
The US is a signatory of the treaty, but it refuses to reduce it’s store of nukes, and is making plans to build new ones. The US also rejects IAEA oversite on our nuclear activities. Therefore, the US is in violation of their treaty obligations under the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty. India, Pakistan, North Korea and Israel, all have acquired nuclear weapons illegally, but none are signatories of the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty. Therefore, they don’t come under IAEA scrutinty, and cannot be in violation of a treaty they never signed.
*** Iran is also a signatory of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Apparently, they did begin clandestine nuclear research back in the 90′s. However, the did eventually emerge, and for all of this decade (at least), they have been working closely with the IAEA, have been allowing the required inspections, and have been getting reasonably good grades from the IAEA for their cooperation with the process. This behavior would tend to support their consistent assertion that they want the nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.
The US has been adamant in trying to stop Iran from having any Nuclear Technology at all. The EU attempted to forestall US initiatives a few years ago by making an agreement with Iran giving them beneficial trade and political advantages if they suspend their Nuclear Enrichment program. However, the US refused to support this treaty, and continued to press for sanctions and even attacks on Iran. So, Iran backed out of the agreement, but continued with the IAEA.
Russian, China and the EU all have significant energy investments in Iran. Russia is currently building a nuclear power plant in Iran. They offered to provide the enriched Uranium if Iran would desist from enrichment activities, but Iran rejected the offer. After the US raised the issue of sanctions at the UN, Russia has suspended work on the power plant. Iran persisted with their enrichment activities and their inspection schedule with the IAEA.
Finally, The sanctions were enacted by the UN Security Council this spring. Iran was told to cease all Nuclear development “or else”. Unfortunately, the IAEA, as the United Nations Nuclear oversight agency must now judge Iran in relation to compliance with this new demand rather than with the standard of “compliance with Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty requirements”. Iran rejects the Security Council Resolution. Since Iran is determined to continue it’s nuclear development program, this means that there is no longer any way for them to be in compliance with IAEA requirements. So, they had on choice but to drop out of the inspection program.
** Iran is determined to continue their nuclear development program. They repeat their insistence that this is their right regularly. They have faced down all manner of threats over this. At the same time, they have initiated talks with the IAEA in an attempt to restore their relationship and resume the inspection process so they can stay on the up an up with the international community and honor their treaty obligations. Meanwhile Dick Cheney is touring the Middle East calling for an attack on Iran.
The US has caused a situation which achieves the opposite of our stated goal. Instead of drawing Iran into the world community where incentives and peer pressure can be used to assure Iran’s continued commitment to use nuclear power only for peaceful purpose, we are driving her out. Iran wants badly to be a member of the world community, but not at the cost of being treated with contempt by the main player. Iran wants respect from the world community and is acting in what they think is a manner of dignity and self respect.
*** If you want footnotes to back up what I have said here, read the previous post.
** According to IRIB News in Iran, negotiations with the IAEA have been fruitful and IAEA inspections of Iran’s Nuclear Program have resumed.
Here are the points I made earlier with regard to the perverse absurdity of attacking Iran, with links to sources that validate them. The links are useful because so many people find the truth difficult to accept, perhaps because most people are continuously bombarded with distortions of fact and outright falsehoods about Iran and the rest of the Middle East by the mainstream press.