Political Science

Iran is considered to be one of the most progressed Arab nations in the Middle East. The country has made major headlines around the world regarding its nuclear power program. The western powers headed by the US have been at the forefront condemning the program and labeling the nation a rogue state that supports terrorism. Under the leadership of president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the country has made major steps in its nuclear power program which started in the 1950s, ironically with the assistance of friend turned foe, the US, as part of the atoms for peace program. The atoms for peace program involved the US government under Dwight Eisenhower, sharing atomic energy technology with some nations across the world to be used for peaceful purposes i.e. energy. According to political analysts, the program was intended to appease the world over the occurrences of Nagasaki and Hiroshima.

Irans pursuit of nuclear power has not been without resistance and controversy. The US started and sponsored Irans nuclear efforts until the Iranian revolution of 1979. Since then, the US did not only cut its support but also condemned the program. The UK and Israel have also been at the fore front in condemning Irans nuclear ambitions saying that the program is intended to produce nuclear warheads at a time when the worlds super powers are planning on destroying their nuclear weapons. On the other hand, Iran has defended its program saying that it is intended for energy needs only.

Information on Irans nuclear program from the Iranian government has been scant and not forthcoming. Of the known and openly available information, Iran has one uranium mine, one nuclear reactor, and three uranium enrichments plants alongside some uranium processing equipments though suspicion is rife that there are other secret mines and reactors. Again government reports have at times been contradictory over the capacity and progress of the program the mistrust between the country and the West.

In a show of resistance to Irans nuclear power program, the US has placed a number of trade embargoes and sanctions against the country which have been on and off depending on talks between the two. These are aimed at compelling the country to abandon its nuclear ambitions. Consequently, the UN has opted to arbitrate the matter and host talks between Iran and western powers opposed to Irans nuclear program. However, the countries opposing Iran nuclear power program all possess the same. Why then do they oppose the Iranian one Do they even have the rights to do so
If at all this nuclear program is aimed at making nuclear war heads, then the program is taking the world a big step behind. Why The effects of the atomic bombs in Nagasaki and Hiroshima are still visible and will not be forgotten soon. Given that nuclear bombs are more powerful than atomic ones, the world is in eminent danger. Allowing more and more nations to attain nuclear weapons will definitely lead to another arms race this time round involving nuclear weapons thus polarize the world and rock global political power balance. Given the instability of the Middle East, there is fear that the nuclear weapons could easily fall into the terrorists hands which would increase global insecurity. On such basis, the West has valid reasons to oppose the plan. Additionally, the US sponsored the program from the word go and hence feels obligated to guide the state on how to handle the program.

Nevertheless, Iran is a sovereign state whose independence should be respected. The row over the program is seen not mainly to center on nuclear power itself but rather the influence the Arab nation will have over its fellow Arab nations and to whom the country will assist the technology with. This may not seem significant at all, but considering that majority of the worlds oil reserves are located in the Middle East, then there is need for concern from the western worlds perspective as it relies on Middle Eastern oil immensely to drive its economy. As a nuclear power, Iran will be positioned to influence Arab nations on production of oil to alter global oil prices. On the other hand, Iran has vowed to wipe Israel from the map of the world. As an ardent supporter of Israel, the US feels obligated to halt Irans nuclear program as it does not trust Irans claims that the program is meant for energy production and not weapons.