Iran Nuclear Program - Essay Example

Iran Nuclear Program: Iran nuclear crisis are one of the most attention seeking problems and crisis of modern times. It has brought the Super powers and other influential state of the world onto a table for the purpose of finding a permanent resolution to it. The overall affair of Iran’s nuclear crisis is multi fold. Iran claims to be following the nuclear program for the purpose of civilian nuclear power plants which will fulfill its domestic energy needs and other requirements. The western powers on other side have long claimed that Iran is bent upon the policy of acquiring the nuclear arsenal for the purpose of establishing and becoming a nuclear power. The possible fears are expressed based on the overall fragile political and geo strategic location of Iran and other adjoining countries in that region, as a result, a continuous effort has been put in by the Global community towards disarming Iran in the context of nuclear armament and becoming declared nuclear powers. In recent times, diplomatic and political activities progress has been initiated which has come as a rare feat in the previously prevailing scenario of nuclear crisis as a whole. Views of two newspapers posts: J-post views: According to the report published in Jpost, United States of America is pondering over allowing Iran to continue the nuclear technology provided it ensures the global community that the world would not be put at danger from its intentions and also it would not pursue this technology for military gains. This comes as a breakthrough. Although there has been no official word about this, but the Jpost newspaper online source has claimed it. To further support its claim the newspaper post claims that Turkey has been used as an influence and has been asked to convey the message to the Iranian regime(Jpost). Washington post’s views: Washington post in contrast has maintained the views that Iran is persistently following the path that would lead it to become the 8th declared state to be equipped with the nuclear arsenal. Washington post has supported its claims based on the statements of Michael Oren, who is the ambassador to the United States. He has termed overall intentions and ambitions of Iran as counterproductive towards the global peace and most importantly that of the Middle East. Iranian ambitions have been bridged to the Syrian Nexus and the potential usage of the chemical weapons that came about in mid 2013 in Syria. The article further claims, Iran has acquired over 180 kilograms (Oren) of the hazardous material which is subjected to sanction and disapproval of the global community and I.A.E.A in particular (Garrett & Hart, p 108). Large amount of intelligence reporting and investigation has been undertaken into the entire process and time and again it has been reported by the different agencies that Iran is nearly on the verge of declaring itself the nuclear power. Historic background: The overall story of Iran aiming to gain nuclear technology came about in the 50s decade when a Pro American government was brought into place. At that time, it was being said that the technology would be used to fulfill the growing needs of the country and would be totally civilian in nature, but with time, fears were being expressed with regard to the nature of original intentions behind it. Further progress came about towards the Iranian Revolution when an Islamic outlook oriented government came into existence and the Grand Leader publically declared that the Iranian people do not intend pursuing nuclear technology for the purpose of military pursuits. It was further clarified that Iran considers nuclear technology for military purposes as an action against the rulings and teachings of Islam for it leads to the destruction of mankind and humanity as a whole (Parsi, p. 144). Towards the 1990s and onwards the situation deteriorated and the Iranian regime has been time and again blamed for following its motives in line with the nuclear arsenal equipment for military purposes. As a result of this activity, Iran has been faced with large number of sanctions (Reardon). These sanctions have crippled the Iranian economy in many ways. Iran has signed number of memorandums and global accords under which it does not stand any legal status or capacity to be practicing and developing nuclear arsenal. The outlook of economy: As a result of the sanctions imposed, which are both military, and economic in nature, Iran’s economy has felt the impact and blow of it in many ways. The overall living standard has gone down as a result of it. The overall inflation rates are staggeringly high. In recently reported analysis the overall inflation rate is as high as 29 to 31 percent. Unemployment rates are massively higher as well. Conclusion: Considering and realizing the sensitivity of the overall issue, the global community decided to take these crises to the diplomatic and political level and as a result the year 2013 November saw the first formal meeting and discussion of the issue faced. The Iranian regime sat with the super powers in the form of United States of America and other five members. The P5+1 group have held number of rounds of discussions (Smith). The second round of these talks was held in February 2014. There are number power plants that have been marked as ones that are relatively fragile and are feared of having been used for the military purposes and nuclear material establishment. of According to the agreed proposal Iran is needed to reduce the uranium enrichment on number of plants that are marked out by United States of America and other members. In parallel Iran must grant access to the U.N supported agency and watchdog of International Atomic Energy Agency( I.A.E.A) and it must be given free access to check the different power plants and view if the Iranian ambitions are truly for civilian purposes. Iran has presently shown willingness towards allowing the nuclear watchdogs, and in the same context it has promised reducing the overall rate of uranium enrichment to a value of less than 20 percent. If Iran complies with this, Iran will get over 7 billion dollars of the amount that has been long frozen in form of the sanctions that have been in place over Iran for number of years. This was a relatively progressive and encouraging move towards the entire standoff that has been in display for over three decades. The Incumbent administration of United States of America under the leadership of President Barrack Obama and John Kerry have taken special and extra steps with hopes of resolving the long persistent issue of Iran nuclear crisis. President Obama despite taking up the challenge has made it clear that he knows the level of sensitivity of the overall matter and he is not delusional and away from the facts and the difficult nature of the overall dialogue process, however he believes, dialogue must be given a chance for the sake of peaceful and nuclear free nuclear world in coming days. Two distinct schools of thoughts prevail in this context, one believes Iran’s ambitions are utterly for civilian purposes, the other bench believes that Iran is following the path towards acquiring nuclear arsenal in order to upset the peace balance and be prepared in a counter manner against Israel with which Iran has a long standoff since the last three decades. Iranian leadership has time and again stressed that Iran does not aim at acquiring the nuclear material for military purposes, segment of mindset in the West believes that Iran is following the path towards becoming a globally declared nuclear capable state. References: Garrett, Benjamin C. and John Hart. Historical Dictionary of Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Warfare. Scarecrow Press, 2007 Jpost. Obama could accept Iran civilian nuclear program. 4 June 2012. 29 April 2014 http://www.jpost.com/Iranian-Threat/News/Obama-could-accept-Iran-civilian-nuclear-program Parsi, Trita. Treacherous Alliance: The Secret Dealings of Israel, Iran, and the United States. Yale University Press, 2007 Reardon, Robert J. Containing Iran: Strategies for Addressing the Iranian Nuclear Challenge. Rand Corporation, 2012 Smith, Laura. Substantive talks over Irans nuclear program. 16 Oct 2013. 29 April 2014 Oren, Michael. Iran’s nuclear designs are the greater Middle East threat. 25 May 2013. 29 April 2014 http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/irans-nuclear-designs-are-the-greater-middle-east-threat/2013/05/24/8fe22228-c490-11e2-914f-a7aba60512a7_story.html Read More