Hue and cry on Iran’s nukes...Pakistan Observer

mano g · #1 Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Farhan Ali Chohan
31 January 2012

Now a days Iranian Nuclear program has became a focal point of discussion in the world, especially for the US, Israel and the Gulf States. UK and the EU have claimed that Iran’s nuclear weapon program is “a threat to the global peace”. Nonetheless, on the other hand, The Gulf states’ policy towards Iran’s nuclear ambitions has combined elements of appeasement with a fundamental reliance on the United States as a defending and deterring force.

Most of the Gulf states lack strategic depth, have small populations, and small, untrained armies. Moreover, their significant oil and natural gas reserves have made them the potential target for aggression and dependent on outside forces for defense. These Gulf states contain some 45 percent of the world’s oil reserves and 25 percent of the world’s natural gas reserves, a fact that has over the years made them the target of aggression and dependent on outside force for defense. Although Iran’s determination to continue with its nuclear program has made it difficult for them openly to present a united front and thereby function as a counterforce to Iran’s might. The GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) States are indeed worried about continuing nuclear development in Iran, they are no less worried about a scenario in which, lacking any attractive diplomatic option, Iranian nuclear facilities are attacked. While the Israeli Defence Minister (Ehud Barak) asserting that any decision regarding a possible Pre-emptive strike on Iran is “vary Far off”.

In the response to GCC state’s extraordinary support to US and EU powers regarding the Iranian nuclear issue, Iranian Foreign Minister warned that Arab neighbours not put themselves in a “dangerous Position” by aligning themselves too closely with the United States in the escalating disputes over Iranian Nuclear activities. Moreover Iran has threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz, used for a third of the world’s seaborne oil trade, if pending Western moves to ban Iranian crude exports cripple its lifeblood energy sector, fanning fears of a slide into wider Middle East war. Although, the world’s largest exporter Saudi Arabia assured the concerned states that it could swiftly raise oil output for key customers if needed, a scenario that could transpire if Iranian exports were embargoed.

The U.S. President Obama warned Iran that America would focus on its disputed nuclear program with ‘no options off the table’ but said the door remained open to talks for a peaceful resolution. This statement came after EU sent its flotilla of war ships, led by US carriers to state of Hurmaz, a clear signaling for Iran. On 23rd of this month the combine statement by German chancellor Angelina Markel and French President Sarkozy, in which they asserted that “the EU agreed an unprecedented package of sanctions on Iran, including a full ban on Iranian oil exports.”

Why this hue and cry? The alligatory storm, which is being at its apogee these days, has its legal and legitimate bases in international legal system, in which we are living today. Iran being the signatory of Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) does not suppose to be on the road, which leads to the development of nuclear weapon. Because Iran is a party to that double bargain, which was concluded between haves and haves not in the late 1960s, so according to that “Double Bargain” Iran should live up to its side of Bargain, as the rest of the ‘have nots’ are doing. Secondly, A Nuclear Iran will Nuclearise the region further which already has Pakistan, India, China, Russia, Israel as Nuclear weapon States. The only difference between these Five and Iran is that apparently Iran Pursue the Revisionist Policies and explicitly want to change the world system which according to them is unjust and based on hegemony of few Haves.

Saudi regime is against Iranian nuclear program because of its sectarian differences and the close ties with US and Israel. The main reason of this hue and cry from the United State side is, according to Pentagon war planners that their largest conventional “Massive Ordnance Penetrator” bomb isn’t yet capable of destroying Iran’s most heavily equipped underground facilities, and are stepping up efforts to make it more powerful. The 30,000 pound “bunker-buster” bomb was particularly designed to take out the hardened fortifications built by Iran and North Korea to hide their nuclear programs. Keeping in view the consequence of war with Iran the best option for US and Israel is to solve this issue through diplomatic means. Pakistan will also support peaceful resolution of this issue as in view of various compulsions it cannot support US war with Iran.

—The writer is a research fellow at Islamabad Policy Research Institute.

The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to mano g For This Useful Post:
azeegum (Wednesday, February 01, 2012), Mahvish Shahid (Tuesday, January 31, 2012)