by John M. Curtis
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Copyright June 2, 2006
All Rights Reserved.

ran's feverish pursuit of its first A-bomb hit a roadblock as the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council—including Germany—agreed on a proposal to force the Islamic republic to suspend its controversial uranium enrichment program. Dealing a blow to Iran's hothead President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the United States, Great Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China signaled that the world speaks with one voice about keeping A-bombs out of the Ayatollah's hands. Pandering to the Islamic street, Iran immediately blamed Israel for manipulating the latest crisis. “The efforts of some Western countries to deprive use will not bear fruit,” said Ahmadinejad, sounding defiant, despite acquiescence by its key trading partners Russia and China. Iran's insistence on its right to “peaceful” nuclear technology under the Nonproliferation Treaty remains the obstacle.

      Pressed to the wall, Iran must suspend enrichment activities and go back to the table or face possible economic and military sanctions. “The reason of their opposition is not their claim of concern over nuclear weapons, but Iran's access to the technology that means opening the way for all independent countries, especially Islamic countries to the advanced technology,” Ahmadinejad told the Iranian state news agency IRNA, painting the struggle as Western domination of Islamic countries. Like Osama bin Laden, Ahmadinejad has mastered his propaganda, blaming the mess on the international Zionist conspiracy. Iran's problems stem from Ahmadinejad's big mouth, exploiting the Islamic street to divert attention away from Ayatollah Ali Khameini's nuclear ambitions. Ahmadinejad wants advanced atomic technology but wants to turn back the clock on everything else.

      Since Ahmadinejad took office August 4, 2005, Iran has banned all Western music, clothing and anything that reminds the backward government of liberal reforms of the late Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi. Iran's Free press was greatly restricted after former President Mohammad Khatami left office. Teenagers and young adults flee to the mountains to secretly don Western clothing, makeup and play rock ‘n' roll music. Khatami's reforms have been replaced with Ahmadinejad's harsh fundamentalism. “Unforntunately, some who have huge arsenals of nuclear weapons and are not members of the Nonproliferation Treaty, are today in the position of decision making and want to derive us from our inalienable rights,” said Ahmadinejad, condemning Israel and the U.S. for straightjacketing Iran. Iran wants to follow bomb-maker A.Q. Khan who gave Pakistan its first A-bomb May 28, 1998.

      International pressure hasn't deterred Iran from pursuing nuclear technology, including its announcement about its uranium enrichment program. Like the U.S. space program, Iran's nuclear program puts the otherwise third world country on a level playing field with industrialized powers. Pakistan found out how an A-bomb gave it extra clout with its archrival, India. Since Pakistan got the bomb, India has been far more deferential, dealing with volatile issues like Kashmir. Iran wants the same clout that only an A-bomb can bring. “I formally declare that Iran has joined the club of nuclear countries,” Ahmadinejad said April 11 in a nationally televised address, serving notice that there's no turning back from Iran's atomic ambitions. When Ahmadinejad talks about joining the “nuclear club,” he's not referring to generating electricity but possessing an A-bomb.

      Estimates from the Central Intelligence Agency and other services predict Iran could have a workable device within one to four years. Ahmadinejad boasted about enriching uranium with 164 centrifuges, spinning yellowcake into uranium hexaflouride gas, a final step before it's converted to weapons grade uranium. Bush wants to halt Tehran's enrichment program before it can be packed into Iran's Shahab-3 intermediate-range ballistic missiles, capable of hitting Tel Aviv or U.S. bases. When Iran talks about enriching uranium for “peaceful purposes,” it's referring to A-bombs as a deterrent to U.S. and Israeli aggression. Ahmadinejad talks about the how the Iranian people will settle for nothing short of completing the nuclear fuel cycle under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, permitting uranium enrichment for “peaceful purposes,” namely, generating electric power.

      World petroleum markets watched prices vacillate when the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council had reached a deal to end Iran's enrichment program. When Iran's Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki told reporters that negotiations could not be on the condition that Iran suspend its enrichment program, world oil prices leaped two dollars a barrel. “Iran welcomes dialogue under just conditions but won't give up our rights,” Mottaki was quoted by state-run TV. Unless there's a last-minute flip-flop, Iran won't give up its right to nuclear technology. Iran has the backing of the non-aligned Movement, recently endorsing Iran's right to complete the nuclear fuel cycle in Putrajaya, Malaysia. No one yet knows the contents of the new proposal but forcing Iran to give up enrichment is an instant deal-breaker pushing the Gulf closer to the brink.

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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