The US, Iran & Nuclear Energy: stuck between a centrifuge and a hard place

When discussing nuclear energy and the potential to convert that energy into military weapons, the rhetoric coming from the government of Iran continues to escalate the consequences of not having a united front.

On Tuesday, April 25, 2006, the supreme leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, announced that the nuclear technology that they are developing may not remain in Iranian hands.

"Iran's nuclear capability is one example of various scientific capabilities in the country. ... The Islamic Republic of Iran is prepared to transfer the experience, knowledge and technology of its scientists,"

These remarks came as Ayatolla Ali Khamenei was meeting with the President of Sudan, President Omar al-Bashir. Sharing this type of technology with nations such as Sudan or splinter terrorist groups like Hammas is what THE TREATY ON THE NON-PROLIFERATION OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS ( NPT ) was designed to prevent.

The UN’s inability to provide a clear and concise message from the other world leaders; continues to embolden the Iranians to go forward, not only with their rhetoric but with their development of nuclear materials. While it is the right of each member of the NPT to develop nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, this right becomes questionable when a member state (such as Iran) speaks publicly of wiping other nations “off the map”.

Throw in two permanent members of the UN Security Council, Russia and China, who continue to provide leverage for the Iranians to move forward with their nuclear ambitions when they make statements such as:

"We see no alternative to the negotiations process,"

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov

We maintain that there is still room for the solution of this issue through negotiation, and the international community should not quit its effort.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang

It isn’t the international community who’s sending mixed messages regarding the Iranian nuclear issue, it’s Iran. China and Russia seem to have no stomach for economic sanctions being placed on Iran and Iran seems to have no interest in changing thier current policy of rhetoric while developing nuclear materials.

This conundrum places the US, EU and the UN in what can only be called a difficult situation. Iran continues to posture and the only real teeth the UN has is through the IAEA and the Security Council which China and Russia refuses to unleash. A new ‘balance of power’ is emerging from the Middle East, the Far East, and Russia and America seems to be a spectator in world events. 2006 will prove to be a very challenging year for the State Dept., with regards to Iran.

Mike DiBartolo