StudentShare
Contact Us
Sign In / Sign Up for FREE
Search
Go to advanced search...
Free

Iran's Nuclear Power - Essay Example

Cite this document
Summary
The author of the paper "Iran's Nuclear Power" will begin with the statement that it is nearly every single day that the news carries some type of story with reference to the potential that the Islamic Republic of Iran is developing with regards to nuclear energy, power and/or weaponry…
Download full paper File format: .doc, available for editing
GRAB THE BEST PAPER93.8% of users find it useful
Irans Nuclear Power
Read Text Preview

Extract of sample "Iran's Nuclear Power"

Iran and the Atom It is nearly every single day that the news carries some type of story with reference to the potential that the Islamic Republic of Iran is developing with regards to nuclear energy, power and/or weaponry. The issue that the United States and other nations have with regards to this is neither clear nor straightforward. On the one hand the United States discourages nuclear proliferation of any kind; however, Ira n has attested multiple times before the United Nations, IAEA, and others that its nuclear program is strictly for peaceful purposes. Another complicating factor that is involved in this situation is the fact that Iran is a regional power within the Middle-East and as such continually seeks to play a more defining role with respect to the political movements and determinations of the other Middle-Eastern states. Furthermore, the issue is complicated by the unique relationship that the United States maintains with Israel – the only functional democracy within the region. Lastly, the issue is complicated by the fact that the United States seeks to keep some form of a status quo within the Middle Eastern region. Though this more often than not is never achieved, a nuclear Iran will have the direct effect of encouraging neighboring nations to develop their own nuclear capabilities as a means of matching the disproportionate power and influence that a nuclear Iran would yield. As such, each of these considerations helps to define the way that the United States interacts with and forms its policy with regards to Iran and its nuclear ambitions. The first of these complicating factors has to do with the fact that the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran share a mutual distrust and hatred for one another.1 This distrust and hatred has been born out of a very long history of government subversion and US supported puppet regimes within Iran. After the Islamic Revolution in the 1970’s, the situation was made worse between the two countries as the United States embassy personnel were paraded in front of international media with blindfolds and held within Iran for a total of 444 days.2 This mutual distrust has led to a breakdown in understanding between the two nations both believe the other has dubious motives in either seeking to acquire nuclear material or seeking to deprive the other from such acquisitions. The second complicating factor revolves around the fact that the United States has sought to contain nuclear proliferation since the use of the first atomic weapon in Hiroshima in 1945. Moreover, due to the recent regime change and instability that has been evidenced within the Middle East, the United States and its allies are extraordinarily hesitant to embrace the Iranian regime or its desire to obtain nuclear material/energy or weaponry.3 Thirdly (and perhaps the most powerful of these factors) is the fact that Iran is itself a regional power within the Middle East. The United States, as well as a host of other nations, has designs within the Middle East that will only be further complicated by a nuclear-armed Iran.4 As such, the way in which the United States approaches the issue is one that claims an air of moral superiority with reference to the fact that the Iranian regime is somehow incompetent and/or incapable of having such a weapon. Although this may well be true, the fact of the matter is that the United States more greatly fears the power and prestige that Iran will gain once it develops a nuclear weapon more so than it fears Iran actually seeking to use the weapon in an offensive way5. Even though the political pundits and journalists make nearly incessant remarks regarding the fear that Iran will obtain a nuclear weapon to use in an offensive way, the viewer/reader can normally assume that these fears are merely a representation of the United States’ fear of a loss of influence within the region should Iran in fact develop a nuclear weapon.6 A similar factor that helps the reader to understand the different levels of nuance that exist within this situation is the unique and peculiar relationship that the United States and Israel share in the Middle East. As stated in the introduction, Israel is the only functional democracy that exists within the Middle-East.7 Furthermore, Israel has had a very special relationship with the United States since its inception. This relationship further influences the dynamics of the US-Iranian relationship due to the fact that Iran has directly threatened to “wipe Israel off the map”.8 Furthermore, Israel makes a series of thinly veiled threats with reference to performing a pre-emptive strike on Iranian facilities to keep them from obtaining fissile nuclear material.9 Accordingly, the level of cooperation and understanding that exists between the United States and Israel only serves to force Iran to recluse further into their belligerence. Each of these factors has a profound effect on how the United States and Iran interact and work to achieve their mutual goals within the context of this peculiar relationship. As one can readily see through a quick examination of the situations that have been presented, a fundamental breakdown of understanding exists between the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran. This breakdown in trust is a compound result of former and current distrust, competing interests, and differing world views. In order to accomplish any type of improvement in this relationship as it currently exists, both parties will need to seek to understand one another in a way that is distinctly different from the level of engagement that these two nations have experienced in the past.10 As such, the United States will need to respect the sovereignty of the Islamic Republic of Iran and its right to have an active role within the regional politics of the Middle East. Conversely, the Iran must be respectful of legitimate states within the Middle East (namely Israel) and seek to be open and transparent with regards to its nuclear ambitions. Therefore, in order for the regime to gain a further degree of respect within the current world system, it will be necessary for Iran to change the level of interaction which they exhibit to show a level of positive engagement. Likewise, if the West (inclusive of the United States) intends to effect a positive change on the political situation within Iran, they may well consider the fact that multiple years of embargo and sanctions have failed outright to change the path that the Iranian leadership pursues. With these key facts in mind, a fundamental shift could be affected in the relationship between the two nations in a way that could greatly and profoundly affect the level of cooperation and agreement that the two could experience if this indeed were the case. References 2011. "Olli Heinonen: Reporting from the front lines of nuclear proliferation." Bulletin Of The Atomic Scientists 67, no. 2: 1-9. Academic Search Complete, EBSCOhost (accessed November 13, 2012). Allison, Graham T. "Slinking toward the bomb. How close is Iran to acquiring a nuclear weapon?." Scientific American 306, no. 6 (June 2012): 14. MEDLINE, EBSCOhost (accessed November 13, 2012). Barzegar, Kayhan. 2010. "The Iranian quagmire: How to move forward." Bulletin Of The Atomic Scientists 66, no. 6: 109-114. Academic Search Complete, EBSCOhost (accessed November 13, 2012). Ben-Meir, Mon. 2009. "NEGOTIATING STRATEGY TO PREVENT A NUCLEAR IRAN." International Journal On World Peace 26, no. 1: 69-89. Academic Search Complete, EBSCOhost (accessed November 13, 2012). Edelman, Eric S., Andrew F. Krepinevich, and Evan Braden Montgomery. 2011. "The Dangers of a Nuclear Iran." Foreign Affairs 90, no. 1: 66-81. Academic Search Complete, EBSCOhost (accessed November 13, 2012). Hibbs, Mark. "Nuclear energy 2011: A watershed year." Bulletin Of The Atomic Scientists 68, no. 1 (January 2012): 10-19. Academic Search Complete, EBSCOhost (accessed November 13, 2012). Kahl, Colin H. "Not Time to Attack Iran." Foreign Affairs 91, no. 2 (March 2012): 166-173. Business Source Premier, EBSCOhost (accessed November 13, 2012). Miller, Steven E. "Nuclear weapons 2011: Momentum slows, reality returns." Bulletin Of The Atomic Scientists 68, no. 1 (January 2012): 20-28. Academic Search Complete, EBSCOhost (accessed November 13, 2012). Schell, Jonathan. "Thinking the Unthinkable." Nation 294, no. 17 (April 23, 2012): 20-26. Academic Search Complete, EBSCOhost (accessed November 13, 2012). Waltz, Kenneth N. 2012. "Why Iran Should Get the Bomb." Foreign Affairs 91, no. 4: 2-5. Business Source Premier, EBSCOhost (accessed November 13, 2012). Read More
Tags
Cite this document
  • APA
  • MLA
  • CHICAGO
(Iran's Nuclear Power Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words, n.d.)
Iran's Nuclear Power Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words. https://studentshare.org/politics/1787302-irans-nuclear-power
(Iran'S Nuclear Power Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 Words)
Iran'S Nuclear Power Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 Words. https://studentshare.org/politics/1787302-irans-nuclear-power.
“Iran'S Nuclear Power Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 Words”. https://studentshare.org/politics/1787302-irans-nuclear-power.
  • Cited: 0 times

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF Iran's Nuclear Power

History - Sanctions and Nonprofilerations

It is surrounded by Iraq, Afghanistan and is not so far from a strongly opposed nuclear power, Israel, who keeps on threatening Iran on its extreme Islamic policies.... North Korea is a declared nuclear power with tests in 2006 and 2009, where Iran is still in the way.... So they consider iran's nuclear program as a great threat to their strength and might in the world.... Instructor Name: Sanctions and Nonproliferation There has been a great debate so far that Iran and North Korea should not develop nuclear technologies and should not have their own, well-established nuclear program....
3 Pages (750 words) Essay

Best Approach to a Nuclear Iran

Topic: Best Approach to a Nuclear Iran Introduction Since 1950s iran's nuclear energy technology development program has made steady progress.... They differ in details as for approach but both agree that iran's nuclear weapons program ambitions must be contained without further delay.... Christopher Hemmer argues that patient diplomacy is the best approach to contain iran's nuclear program.... He advocates direct military intervention and destruction of iran's nuclear capabilities....
3 Pages (750 words) Essay

An Adverse Effect on the Relations Between the EU and Iran

In the absence of nuclear weapons technology, Iran cannot control the malicious efforts of a neighboring country or nuclear power from supporting rebellion.... Furthermore, iran's nuclear program has attracted the attention of the international community.... Furthermore, iran's nuclear program has attracted the attention of the international community.... It has been vehemently claimed by the Iranian officials that their pursuit of nuclear technology, is only for peaceful purposes, like power generation....
2 Pages (500 words) Research Paper

Should Iran be allowed to freely carry on with its nuclear programme

It is ironic that the same countries using nuclear power plants within their territories and, in some cases, stockpiling immense nuclear arsenal, are forcing Iran to shutdown its peaceful nuclear energy program.... Therefore, it can be said that not only is Iran within its rights to develop a peaceful nuclear program, but the US and the other international community, by their opposition to iran's nuclear program, are in direct violation of the NPT, specifically Article IV(2)....
2 Pages (500 words) Essay

Assessing Iran's Nuclear Program

The utilisation of such sources remains a safe method for gathering some risk information, though some information… Iran's plans for construction of a nuclear power plant can be established from such sources, which are meant to inform the public regarding such occurrences.... Since the country considers the capacity to produce nuclear power its right, the country is bound to release a lot of information to various sources, which can be utilised to gather intelligence reports....
4 Pages (1000 words) Essay

Iran's Promise to Discontinue the Production of Nuclear Weapons

There have been concerns on the best way for the Unites States and Israel to react to iran's nuclear activities.... The Priority Intelligence Requirement for this report is to answer the question; Will Iran honour its promise to discontinue the production of nuclear weapons or will they go ahead with their plans?... Determining the answer to this question is crucial since it will determine how… Although Iran has agreed to abandoning their plans for the acquisition of nuclear weapons, there is still no guarantee that they will honour this promise....
5 Pages (1250 words) Assignment

Intelligence Analysis

Iran's perceived nuclear activities and connections with terrorists have placed it under scrutiny by media in Western… Several American institutions and intelligence officials have long suspected that Iran is a major backing power for terrorist, especially al – Qaida.... evelopment Several American institutions and intelligence officials have long suspected that Iran is a major backing power for terrorist, especially al – Qaida.... These suspicions have majorly come into the limelight at a crucial time when Iran – Western negotiations are ongoing 27 March Iran Politics: Terrorism, nuclear Program and the view of Western Media Summary Terrorism has been a bone of contention and a source of war between Muslim, Arabic nations and Western nations before and after the September 9/11 attack....
1 Pages (250 words) Assignment

Intelligence Analysis

He claims 2 April Iran Politics: Ambassador to the UN and nuclear Talks Summary The long standing feuds between Iran and Western powers continue to linger on.... Stretching back to the seventies through diplomatic rows, they have persisted to this very date and are evident by the debate on whether to give the currently appointed Iran envoy a visa of entry into the USA amid the looming high level nuclear talks taking place on Thursday between Iran and six major world powers....
1 Pages (250 words) Assignment
sponsored ads
We use cookies to create the best experience for you. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to manage cookies.
Contact Us