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حزب مردم بلوچستان Balochistan People’s Party بلوچستانءِ اُستمانءِ گــَل |
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Iran at a crossroads Monday, June 12, 2006
The
crisis that began with Iran announcing its intention of enriching uranium
is far from over. Statements Mahmood Ahmadinejad has made since being
elected Iranian president have only escalated the tension. All eyes are
turned to Iran. The United States and European countries, concerned over
the possibility of Iran enriching weapons-grade uranium, have started to
take the threat seriously. If Iran continues to ignore their concerns, the
crisis can only grow.
The crisis that began with Iran announcing its intention of enriching uranium is far from over. Statements Mahmood Ahmadinejad has made since being elected Iranian president have only escalated the tension. All eyes are turned to Iran. The United States and European countries, concerned over the possibility of Iran enriching weapons-grade uranium, have started to take the threat seriously. If Iran continues to ignore their concerns, the crisis can only grow. In voicing its determination to continue to enrich uranium, Iran forced the issue to be discussed at the U.N. Security Council. Why does Iran insist on a nuclear program? Does Iran want to produce nuclear weapons? We may ask many more questions; however, the response to each one is very clear. Most of Ahmadinejad's statements refer to Israel. Israel, which is already a nuclear power, is perceived by Iran as a threat. Iran constantly notes that it cannot ignore the threat posed by Israel. No one should forget the fact that Israel had bombed Iraq's nuclear plant. After Iraq and Afghanistan's occupation, Iran believes it is next. It is worried and is doing all it can to spoil such plans. Iran believes it can get most of what it wants -- negotiate for anything -- if it acquires nuclear weapons. Iran's poor relations with Israel are only escalating the already tense situation. In short, a big crisis is waiting just around the corner for the Middle East. It is no coincidence that Iran is creating a disturbance at a specific stage in the U.S.'s Greater Middle East Project. Iran is aware of the fact that it can wreck plans with its nuclear program. The United States wants Iran to convince the U.N. Security Council that it will not develop nuclear weapons. Doubts, coupled with Iran's attitude, all point to Iran's intention of developing nuclear weapons sometime in the future. That's why the United States wants the U.N. Security Council to be involved in this matter, trying not to be alone like when it invaded Iraq. The United States and the West prefer the issue be resolved through diplomatic negotiations and have submitted a package of incentives to Iran to this effect. They expect Iran to assess the package carefully and to give a response before the G-8 summit. While moderate statements from Iran after the package was presented offer us some hope, it is still too early to say that the crisis has been tempered. Meanwhile, we see that Iran is trying to further its relations with Turkey. Operations Iran has conducted in its border regions against the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) are encouraging. In response to the U.S. threat to it, Iran is trying to show Turkey that it is willing to cooperate to fight PKK terrorism even if the United States isn't. It is trying to show that it won't permit terrorist infiltrations into Turkey from within its borders. Iran also shares Turkey's concern over developments concerning an independent Kurdish region in the north of Iraq and is aware that this Kurdish region could become a launching pad for operations against its own regime. Consequently, Iran is both protecting its own borders and demonstrating practical concern over recent developments in the area. It appears Iran is taking precautions against the possible consequences of the Greater Middle East Project while utilizing its own resources to strengthen itself. The United States will not want to start a new adventure in Iran without stabilizing Iraq and Afghanistan. It will want to wait and see what's happening. In conclusion, Iran is aware of the fact that it needs to provide a positive response to the package. It needs to gather international supporters, and its only option is to actively seek these supporters. Iran needs to take the diplomatic road and convince the rest of the world that its nuclear program has only peaceful intentions. It is obvious that it will try to benefit from its trump cards. But if Iran forces the issue, then not only Iran but the entire region will suffer. http://www.turkishdailynews.com.tr/
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