Irans Nuclear Pursuits - Research Paper Example

Iran’s nuclear pursuits Iran’s nuclear pursuits began in the 1970s under Iran's Atomic Energy Organization. The nuclear plant began under the direction of the Shah of Iran, who announced the building 0f nuclear power plants in the country, in which case the plan as supported by the United States (Dorraj 325). The goal of the nuclear pursuits was for the generation of more electric power to drive the economy and meet the power needs of the Iranian people. The support of the Americans came from the concept of partnership, in which the Americans were of the opinion that the Iranian would be a worthy partner for the development of nuclear technology. As such, the Iranian government continued with their projects to generate energy meant to serve its population that was more than 75 million, where political and other aspects took over the thinking portion over nuclear technology. Following this, political forces came into being, where they viewed nuclear technology as more than a technology meant to generate energy and power for its people. This became the driving force away from mere energy production and into production of nuclear weapons, a project that America and other world powers are against. Estimates to nuclear capability in recent times show that Iran stands a good chance to develop their uranium and include it in the production of weapons of mass destruction. This is especially so for nuclear weapons, as there is evidence in recent suggesting that the country stands a chance to begin uranium enrichment. Reasons for the pursuit of nuclear weaponry by Iran lie in the attempts by American to impose their opinions and ideologies on Iranians through their support for their initial nuclear project. This created the idea that the Iranians were being sidelined in their own land and in their own projects in that to them the Americans intended to take over that which belonged to them. With this in mind, the main cause that can be attributed to the deviation from the original plan can be seen in the prisoners of insecurity. This is because with nuclear power, where power stands for nuclear capability in weapons, the Iranians stand a chance to have power to eliminate threats and not be victims of world powers influencing them. In addition, the move from nuclear power to pursuits of nuclear weapons can be attributed to an aspiration of prestige, where Iran and Iraq have a bitter rivalry for the control or power in the Persian Gulf region (Dorraj 326). With nuclear capabilities, Iran stands a chance to overcome other regional and international powers, where it can manage to negotiate its way into and out of deals that are not suitable. This also translates to international recognition as a nuclear arsenal has helped some countries into positions of power on an international scale as it also depicts the presence of technological advancement. The reasons for Iran having pursuits for nuclear weapons can therefore be attributed to image of Iran towards the outside world and the international community, as well as the state of security of the country from external forces. The consequences of Iran and its pursuits of nuclear weapons have been sanctions against Iran, where policy makers have been formulating sanctions to curb the spread of the nuclear pursuits and prevent its development. Sanctions have been employed by the US, where it has used its foreign policy to ensure that it threatens Iran against developing nuclear weapons, where its economic ability has been the main weapon. As a result, the United States has sanctioned Iran by curtailing political, economic and diplomatic relations as it is considered to use its nuclear capabilities to fund and support terrorist activities, as well as oppose Israel (Cohen 10). The sanctions, however, have not worked to ensure that the pursuit ceases as the sanctioned aspects of Iran have been taken over by other countries that have sought to take over that which ten Americans and other countries that are against the nuclear pursuits of Iran have relinquished. The uranium enrichment program by Iran has seen increased sanctions by the United Nations Security Council, where upon annunciation, it saw the country receive an ultimatum to cease enrichment or face more serious consequences. Instead, it went on ahead with its industrial enrichment under the mandate it has as a member of the NPT (Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty). This is because being a member of the NPT gives member nations a right to enrich their uranium rods for peaceful purposes, which translates to the legality of the Iranian nuclear program, as well as pursuit of nuclear weapons, as it for peaceful purposes according to the NPT charter (Ozcan and Ozdamar 122). In prevention of further development of their pursuit, there have been different measures taken other than the sanction applied by different countries such as the US, in that dialogue has been used an option. This is evident through attempts by the United States to hold peace talks with Iran to see it discontinue its enrichment program, as to them it is just another front for Iran to destabilize the world through war and terror activities. This is demonstrated through President Obama’s diplomatic engagement with Iran through denouncing threats as a means to achieving the end of Iran’s nuclear weapon pursuits. As such, it has engaged the country in talks or has attempted to reach an amicable agreement on how best to proceed. However, the whole process has been marred by disputes, where the Iranians have viewed dialogue as a process of seeking a new regime by removing the current one (O’Sullivan 11). This has seen the prevention of the spread curtailed greatly, and even stall as the program is still in place and developing at a fast rate with more advancements made in enrichment. In conclusion, Iran’s pursuit of nuclear weapons is due to the circumstances imposed on them originally by the Americans, and other nations that have used nuclear power and capabilities to gain supremacy. As a result, Iran has taken to developing nuclear weapons and the consequences have been sanctions on the nation and its economy, as well as its diplomatic ties, where some countries have attempted to mediate, and end the nuclear program. On the other hand, being a member of the NPT offers grounds for the program to thrive even further as it is within the mandate of the member states to pursue nuclear weapons. Works Cited O'Sullivan, Meghan L. "Iran And The Great Sanctions Debate." Washington Quarterly 33.4 (2010): 7-21. Dorraj, Manochehr. "Behind Iran's Nuclear Pursuit?." Peace Review 18.3 (2006): 325-332. Cohen, Avner. "Israel's Nuclear Future: Iran, Opacity And The Vision Of Global Zero." Palestine-Israel Journal Of Politics, Economics & Culture 16.3/4 (2010): 6-19. Ozcan, Nihat Ali, and Ozgur Ozdamar. "Iran's Nuclear Program And The Future Of U.S.-Iranian Relations." Middle East Policy 16.1 (2009): 121-133. Read More