Curbing Iran's Nuclear Ambitions

With the re-election of Ahmadinejad there is little prospect of a softening line from Tehran. Curbing Iran’s nuclear ambitions remains a diplomatic conundrum with high stakes for the world. The danger of a nuclear Iran destabilizing an already unstable region and creating a flash point for further Middle East conflict is self-evident. Worse still is the prospect of the US being drawn into another unwinnable war.



The Obama administration seems prepared for rapprochement, after the stalemate created during the Bush years, and is willing to restart negotiations with Iran. Unquestionably, to resolve the impasse some form of dialogue is essential. Yet there are few positive indications from Tehran that a new more constructive approach will yield success.

The fundamental question must be one of motivation—what is the end game for Iran? Is Ahmadinejad truly hell bent on destroying Israel, as many fear from his rhetoric, or is he just playing to the gallery? It is difficult to believe that any sane individual would willfully and recklessly provoke an almost inevitable military response from Tel Aviv.

So what is behind it all … why does Iran willingly continue to suffer sanctions and pariah status on the world stage? Do they require such a clash with the international community to give their regime legitimacy like the North Koreans? Is it a bargaining chip and if so in exchange for what? Perhaps it is an issue of self-determination and the right to develop nuclear energy, as they insist? Whatever the case, it is difficult to believe that the Iranians will be easily diverted from their current course of action.

So, if it really is an issue of a nation state’s right to choose their own path, then arguably it makes better sense to embrace their ambition and let them officially join the nuclear club; at least there will be some possibility of effective international oversight. The head of the IAEA thinks that events have now overtaken strategy. He believes that Iran should now be allowed to undertake limited enrichment but under strict supervision. This approach has been rejected by the US and its allies. The alternative it seems is that we must all continue to sit on our hands and watch the Iranians achieve their goal of becoming a nuclear power with little control over the final outcome.

Click to Buy the book Most Wanted.