One Step Forward, Two Steps Backward
Iran continues to insist it has a perfect right to pursue nuclear technology; more, that it is within its rights to continue with its project of enriching uranium, although for peaceful and domestic nuclear purposes enriched uranium is not a requirement.Its opaque agenda, combined with its combative, threatening rhetoric leaves no one in doubt as to its determination to spread fear with respect to its long-range intentions, both within the Middle East at further abroad.
Resurgently bitter Islamic fundamentalism constitutes a threat to the world order, and they would have it no other way. The Ayatollahs and the Ahmadinejads take great pleasure in the sense of accomplishment and victory they enjoy each time a belligerent pronouncement of future intent targeting another country, a political system, a religious belief other than Islam, instills fear in their international audience. To bring fear to a perceived enemy is to triumph.
And countries like Russia, facing their own battles with intractable terrorists very well know the climate brought to bear when they are themselves threatened by jihadists. Which does nothing to stop them from encouraging other terror-instilling regimes from wreaking havoc elsewhere, as long as they remain exempt. And so Russia has decided the time is right to continue assisting Tehran with its nuclear installations.
And to that end Russia has resumed delivery of nuclear fuel to Iran. Claiming that this effectively removes Tehran from a need to continue pursuing its uranium enrichment programme, so worrying to the United Nations and the world at large - particularly its neighbour Israel, slated, according to the Ayatollahs and their world-stage agitator, to annihilation; how better achieved than through nuclear energy armed on a warhead?
While Moscow expressed public displeasure at Iran's non-cooperation with the needed inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency, and claimed to be displeased also at the bellicose rhetoric of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, it is still willing to proceed with providing the country with the wherewith to proceed with of its agenda.
"All fuel that will be delivered will be under the control and guarantees of the International Atomic Energy Agency for the whole time it stays on Iranian territory", according to Moscow's foreign ministry. "Moreover, the Iranian side gave additional written guarantees that the fuel will be used only for the Bushehr nuclear power plant." Spent fuel is to be returned to Russia. So we are to believe.
The U.S. is putting a brave face on the situation; their recently-issued security report after all, can be construed as being the impetus in encouraging Russia to proceed. It has had the effect of encouraging Russia and China to refuse to sign on to tougher sanctions because of uranium enrichment programmes undertaken so strenuously by Iran.
Fact seems that Iran says, despite what Russia claims, it has no intention of suspending uranium enrichment.
We have options, it would seem. To sit back and watch while events unfold. And they will. Predictably, unfortunately.
The other option seems an untenable one, but on the face of it, what other option is there?
Labels: Technology, Troublespots
posted by Pieface @ Tuesday, December 18, 2007
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