Iran-USA relations
Dr. Abdul Ruff Colachal, JNU, New Delhi
Iran seems to be quite confident that nothing could now stop it from becoming a nuclear power in the years to come and all pressure tactics as well as the sanctions actually do not mean anything to it. It appears Tehran is pretty sure that the US indirectly permits Iran to go ahead with its nuclear plans by ignoring the UN and that the target of the US-led forces does not include Iran, a former ally and weapons customer of the US. Afghanistan, a former ally of the USSR, accordingly, was attacked by the US to avert Islamisation of that country which would have had spill-l over-effect on the Middle East, while Iraq was ruined ostensibly for its Russian connections. Iranian President Ahmadinejad, therefore, does not place himself in Saddam Hussein's cruel destiny line that ended tragically and thinks he would be eventually safe.A confident Ahmadinejad says it is "too late" to stop Iran's nuclear programme and urged the West and the United States to abandon their "arrogant policies" of setting conditions. Despite pressure, Iran has only become stronger, Ahmadinejad said at a news conference. In other words, Iran will be a nuclear power and the world has to live with that power too. The US and some of its allies fear Iran is trying to develop atomic weapons in violation of its commitments under the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. Iran also appeared to dismiss ambitions of using the controversial nuclear programme for weapons making. Iran denies the accusations in this regard, saying the treaty gives it the right to pursue uranium enrichment for peaceful purposes. But President Bush is no fool to concede that Iran would not manufacture nuclear arms as well. The UNSC first imposed sanctions on Iran in December and modestly increased them in March over Iran's refusal to suspend enrichment. The Council is now preparing to debate on a third round of punitive measures. An IAEA report in May provided the potential trigger for another round of sanctions by saying Tehran continued to defy the Security Council ban on enrichment and instead was expanding its activities. Maybe Iran has a valid point in dismissing a possible US attack. Whether or not the US would attack Iran, the threat perception is still in place. The US can now devise a safe formula to get away from the entangle by boldly announcing a resolve not to invade Iran. That would make the world feel safe and no one would really question the rationale for not attacking Iran. The Pentagon and CIA could ably change the world focus quickly to some other issue. The US could thus become a nice fellow for the West and East once again. The Core Global Media would stand by the US as always!
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