University Wire June 02, 2003
EDITORIAL: U.S. should pressure Iran diplomatically
By Staff Editorial, Daily Bruin
SOURCE: U. California-Los Angeles
Although Iran continues to press forward with disturbing weapon technology projects, the United States must not consider extreme solutions such as military strikes or a CIA-initiated coup. President Bush should restrict U.S. pressure on Iran to legitimate forms, such as diplomatic sanctions.
Bush must also remember that despite the recent military overthrow of Saddam Hussein's regime in Iraq, interventionist policies have a spotty record of success. Ideally, a bilateral agreement should be reached through negotiation. Something must be done to block the reported Iranian nuclear and biological missile weapons programs. A nuclear Iran, armed with long-range missiles, would present a tremendous threat to Europe, substantially complicating the U.S. role in the NATO alliance. Israel, a historical U.S. ally, would also be threatened. In the worst-case scenario, a new Cold War could begin, with Iran taking the place of the Soviet Union as a threat to liberal democracy.
Such a scenario, though unlikely, may be possible. The Iranian Bushehr nuclear reactor -- built by Russian workers -- is nearly complete. Ostensibly designed to provide 1000 megawatts of electrical power, the reactor is also capable of producing weapons-grade plutonium. According to www.globalsecurity.org, Iran could simply replace fuel rods before they are converted to Pu-240, thus creating weapon-useable waste products.
President Bush has mentioned this nuclear program as a trouble spot for United States-Iranian relations. Some analysts have even predicted that the United States may consider precision strikes designed to destroy it before it begins operations.
But before such a rash action occurs, other options should be considered. For example, Russia has offered to reclaim spent fuel rods from the reactor, thus making it impossible for them to be used in weapons. Also, Iran has said the reactor's main purpose is to provide electrical power. If this is true, the United States should help them explore other options, such as oil-based power plants.
Politically, Iran must meet the United States halfway -- it should stop supporting terrorism of any form and should also clearly define its long term defense goals. It should also assure Israel and Europe that it will use its military only defensively.
Baring U.S. action, Iran's status as a global nuclear power may not be far away. According to U.S. government sources, the Shahab-5 missile is under development and would give Iran a near-intercontinental range. Before Iran deploys such a weapon, the United States should work to convince Iran that it does not need nuclear weapons or long-range missiles.
Since the Carter presidency, the U.S. government has had a policy against the use of nuclear weapons on non-nuclear states. The Bush administration is the first government to abandon this policy -- thus causing nations such as Iran to harden their own nuclear ambitions.
Until a more permanent solution arises, a return to Carter's policy would help ease current tensions. However, Iran must also prove that it is not seeking to gain an offensive nuclear umbrella for future military options.
Copyright © 2003, Daily Bruin via U-Wire
