nuclear-news

A nuclear weapons free Middle East in the interests of Israel and Iran

the US can build trust with Iran by supporting a nuclear-free Middle East. While critics would label such a policy stand unrealistic and such a regional agreement far-fetched, it may be in the best interests of both Israel and Iran.

Insisting on zero-enrichment for Iran seems to have already become unrealistic

America needs to change tack on handling Iran Washington can build trust with Tehran by committing itself to a nuclear-free Middle East Gulf News, By Hooshang Amirahmadi and Shahir Shahidsaless, Christian Science Monitor  March 12, 2012  If the US wants to
avoid military strikes on Iran and still wants a diplomatic settlement for the nuclear dispute with the Islamic Republic, Washington must stop talking from both sides of its mouth.
As world powers move towards new talks with Iran, the US must abandon
its delusion that the dual track approach — offering simultaneous
carrots and sticks — will work with Tehran. It must instead adopt a
more pragmatic approach that is sensitive to both the Iranian cultural
sentiments and political realities. In particular, the US must
appreciate the fact that in Iran, right or wrong, national pride is
more important than national interest.
Leaders of the Islamic Republic of Iran have frequently condemned the
tone of American officials as disrespectful and derogatory. They are
particularly annoyed by the terms ‘carrot and stick’ as they are
applied to the ‘donkey’ in Iran. This sense of national pride is
reinforced by the Iranian Islamic culture of resistance to outside
pressure.
President Barack Obama’s televised message to Iran in 2009 called for
a ‘new beginning,’ and such a fresh start could break the deadlock if
it were not accompanied by simultaneous accusations of ‘terror.’
Tehran viewed the message as displaying the carrot and stick
policy……

the US can build trust with Iran by supporting a nuclear-free Middle
East. While critics would label such a policy stand unrealistic and
such a regional agreement far-fetched, it may be in the best interests
of both Israel and Iran. Indeed many obstacles stand in its way, but
working out a monitored agreement where both Israel and Iran give up
nuclear weapons capacity in some way would protect both countries and
de-escalate a standoff that boils hotter by the moment. The US
supporting such a working move could bring Israel and Iran into an
indirect, if not direct, overdue dialogue.
Insisting on zero-enrichment for Iran seems to have already become
unrealistic. Instead, the US should now focus on preventing Iran from
producing bomb-grade uranium, and to do so, the International Atomic
Energy Agency must put Iran’s nuclear sites under strict and intrusive
monitoring.
In fact, Iran is likely to accept this condition, and it may even
accept a partial suspension of uranium enrichment altogether — as long
as the perceived “bullying” policy is abandoned. Agreeing to such a
measure lets the Iranian regime save face (it was not forced into
abandoning a nuclear programme it swore to continue) and also
satisfies American concerns over Iran’s potential development of
nuclear weapons.http://gulfnews.com/opinions/columnists/america-needs-to-change-tack-on-handling-iran-1.992982

March 12, 2012 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Iran, politics international