by John M. Curtis
(310) 204-8700

Copyright March 4, 2008
All Rights Reserved.

ran's defiant President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was dealt another blow by the U.N. Security Council, voting 14-0 to approve new sanctions for refusing to stop enriching uranium. Ahmadinejad ignored calls to stop enriching uranium, citing the Iranian nation's rights under the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty to pursue peaceful uses of nuclear power. Iran finds itself in the hot-seat because Ahmadienjad makes a habit of threatening Israel. Speaking at a World Without Zionism conference Oct. 28. 2005 in Kuala Lumpur, Malasia, Ahmadinejad, less than three short months after taking office Aug. 6, presented a paper “Israel Must Be Wiped Off the Map,” causing an international uproar. While Ahmadinejad says he “respects Jews,” he also hosted Dec. 12, 2006 a Holocaust deniers' conference in Tehran. Taken together, it creates nervousness in the world community.

      Whether or not Ahmadinejad actually threatened Israel, his rhetoric leaves world leaders reluctant to allow Iran to enrich uranium. “Iran cannot and will not accept a requirement which is legally defective and politically coercive,” said Iran's U.N. ambassador Mohammed Khazee, signaling his government rejects the “unlawful action” hindering its right to a “peaceful nuclear program.” Khazee makes no mention of Ahmadinejad's bellicose rhetoric than leaves the world community unable to trust Iranian intentions. “History tells us that no amount of pressure, intimidation and threat will be able to coerce our nation to give up its basic and legal rights,” telling the Security Council where to go. Iran hoped Russia and China, both veto-wielding members of the Security Council, would block further sanctions. Moscow warned Tehran last week to stop enriching uranium.

      When Ahmadinejad talks of the “peaceful” use of nuclear power, he's not talking only about generating electricity. Like Pakistan's notorious atomic bomb-maker A.Q. Khan, Ahmadinejad believes the best deterrent against Western aggression is possessing a workable A-bomb. Because Ahmadinejad engenders no trust, Security Council members suspect Iran has ambitions beyond generating electricity. Under new sanctions, Bank Meli and Bank Saderat, believed financing illicit nuclear materials, come under greater scrutiny. It calls on countries to freeze assets of 12 companies and 13 individuals believed working on Iran's nuclear weapons' program. Banning travel and bank transactions for specific companies and individuals makes nuclear transactions more transparent and preventable. Iran hasn't complied with full inspections from the U.N.'s International Atomic Energy Agency.

      Iran has refused to turn over documents to the IAEA regarding missile and explosive experiments related to a possible atomic weapons' program. Iran called the IAEA's requests “ false and irrelevant,” prompting more suspicions about an illicit weapons' program. Past attempts to win Iran's compliance with IAEA demands proved futile, with Ahmadinejad threatening to break off relations. With Russian President Vladimir V. Putin handing the reins to his handpicked successor Dmitry Medvedev, he wanted to throw the West a bone. Insiders know that, despite the Russian constitution calling for Putin to step down, he will continue to call the shots in his new position as prime minister. Voting with Western powers on the Security Council, Putin asserts control over Tehran's nuclear program and buys more time while consolidating power under Medvedev.

      Visting Tehran, Ahmadinejad ignored the latest Security Council action, preferring to focus on close personal ties with Baghdad. Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and President Jalal Talabani rolled out the red carpet for Ahmadinejad, the first Iranian head of state to visit Baghdad since before Ayahtollah Khomenei's 1979 Islamic revolution. Saddam Hussein, a secular Sunni, fought a brutal six-year year war with Iran ending Aug. 20, 2006, costing nearly 1 million Iranian casualties. With Saddam gone and Iraq's Shiite majority sharing religion and cultural ties with Tehran, it opens the door for cordial relations. Ahmadinejad wasted no time blaming the U.S. for Iraq's problems. “The presence of foreigners in the region has been to a detriment of the nations of the region,” said the Iranian president, trying to drive a wedge between Baghdad and the U.S. military occupation.

      Ahmadinejad used his visit to Baghdad to divert attention from the U.N. latest sanctions aimed at stopping Tehran from enriching uranium. “It's nothing but a humiliation to the regional nations,” said Ahmadinejad, promising more cooperation despite U.S. involvement. Al-Maliki doesn't tell Ahmadinejad that he considers the U.S. an ally in the fight against al-Qaida and other terrorist groups, including Iranian-backed Hezbollah, seeking to destabilize a the new Iraqi government. U.S. military intelligence indicates Tehran supplies weapons and logistics to Shiite militias fighting U.S. occupation. Much to the discomfort of the U.S., Ahmadinejad would like Baghdad to rely more heavily on Tehran for security and political stability. Tehran wants nothing less than for Baghdad to sever ties with the U.S. Ahmadinejad proved he's still the region's propaganda king.

About the Author

John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He's editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.

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