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Iran: Time to Leave the NPT?

Nader Bagherzadeh and Soraya Sepahpour-Ulrich | 30.11.2009 23:49 | Analysis | Anti-militarism | Anti-racism | World

Article IV of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) acknowledges the "inalienable right" of non-nuclear weapons states (NNWS) to research, develop, and use nuclear energy for non-weapons purposes.

Iran, a NNWS has been denied its "inalienable rights" while support and the exchange of nuclear-related information has been withheld. This begs the question why Iran should continue to honor the NPT?

Article IV of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) acknowledges the "inalienable right" of non-nuclear weapons states (NNWS) to research, develop, and use nuclear energy for non-weapons purposes. The NPT also supports the "fullest possible exchange" of such nuclear-related information and technology between nuclear weapons states (P5) and non-nuclear weapons states. Iran, a NNWS has been denied its "inalienable rights" while support and the exchange of nuclear-related information has been withheld. This begs the question why Iran should continue to honor the NPT?

Indications are that Tehran did not believe that in the international arena, its biggest foe would be injustice. When former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, John Bolton was busy engineering completely illegal sanctions against Iran, it was with the goal of testing Tehran's patience in the hope of having them exit the NPT so that he could muster up support for yet another war against an Islamic country in the Middle East. But Iran remained steadfast and in sharp contrast to the United States, it continued to respect international laws in the firm belief that justice would prevail. It did not.

Since 2003, the IAEA has consistently failed its obligations towards Iran as defined by the 1974 Safeguards Agreement. It has failed to facilitate refueling of a small reactor in Tehran, used mostly for short-lived medical isotopes. It has cancelled several key technical assistance programs with Iran, some of them related to nuclear safety issues, under pressure from the US. At America's behest, the IAEA has become a conventional weapon inspector agency, seeking information about national secrets of Iran related to missiles and conventional bomb making capabilities; which is completely outside of its jurisdiction, as spelled out in the 1974 agreement. In violation of Article 9 of the 1974 Agreement, the IAEA has shared Iran’s sensitive nuclear technology with member nations, as well as outside nuclear experts with dubious connections to Iran’s enemies. And most importantly, the Agency with tremendous pressure from US, has elevated a technical non-compliance matter to the level Chapter 7 UNSC sanctions, which should have been used when there is a clear indication of a nuclear weapons program.

The Agency’s clear violation of Iran’s rights under the NPT leads one to wonder if the IAEA is ever going to clear Iran’s file and revert it back to the normal status while the US is exerting pressure. It is unrealistic for Iran’s leadership to assume that by fully engaging the IAEA, sometime in the near future, this agency, working against the wishes of Obama’s administration, will clear Iran’s path to have nascent enrichment capability. After all, the so called “laptop” filled with mostly fabricated information against Iran’s nuclear programs did not show up until it was clear that the IAEA was going to declare 6 outstanding concerns on Iran’s past nuclear activities were no longer valid.

Although Obama has extended his hand towards Iran, the policy of “zero-enrichment” has not changed an iota from Bush’s policy. When Obama chose Gary Samore and Dennis Ross to handle Iran’s nuclear case, it was obvious that Obama did not have any major changes in mind, and the goal was to use a softer approach to gather more support for putting pressure, or as Ross calls it “bigger sticks.” Moreover, a recent trip by Ross to Beijing to convince Chinese leadership to sign up for more sanctions against Iran on behalf of Obama, shows that not only Ross was not marginalized after he was transferred from the State Department to the White House, but he is practically in the driver’s seat for Obama’s Iran policy.

In addition to the West’s shaping of IAEA’s illegitimate position on Iran’s nuclear file, relentless fabricated attacks by the western media has finally resulted in portraying Iran as an outlaw when it comes to the nuclear activities. The propaganda machine led by the likes of Fred Hiatt of Washington Post and Nicolas Goldberg of Los Angeles Times, have helped create such an environment that a recent Pew poll showed that more than 50% of Americans support a US military strike against Iran while the U.S. is in a quagmire in the graveyard of the empires - Afghanistan, and continues to be engaged in its sixth year war in Iraq.

The latest IAEA’s report which continued its demands from Iran to go beyond its obligations under the NPT safeguards and Subsidiary Arrangement Code 3.1 is another misrepresentation of the truth by the Agency. Iran’s Majlis (parliament) never approved this code which requires reporting any nuclear project at the point of inception. It is ironic that a major NPT member (i.e. US) is allowed to threaten Iran’s nuclear facilities with military strikes, but when Iran rightfully wants to prevent that from happening by using passive defensive majors, she is censured by the Board.

Iran’s continued cooperation with the IAEA maybe a call for equality. Their security in pursuing their goal stems from the justness of their cause, itself a compelling reason to delay a war with the US. However, this cooperation is not serving the development of peaceful nuclear energy in Iran. The Agency has been a tool in the hands of major powers and it does not seem that the status will change anytime soon. The way Obama is pushing the chess pieces against Iran by seeking an oil embargo and crippling sanctions, he may be boxed into a war, even if he is ostensibly against it. Perhaps it is time for Iran to reconsider her membership and leave the NPT.

Nader Bagherzadeh and Soraya Sepahpour-Ulrich
- Homepage: http://www.campaigniran.org/casmii/index.php?q=node/8980

Comments

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er

01.12.2009 17:48

I am never one to see TV as a source of hard facts but there was recently a whole program dedicated to the fact that Iran were caught with Pakistan built plans for weponised nukes and centrifuges.

F##K international law and the rules of polite society, I dont want to glow in the dark for someones principles

I know this is a voice in the darkness, just dont want it to be lit up for the next 200 years.

anon by right


IAEA: No diversion in Iran nuclear program

01.12.2009 20:59

The outgoing head of the UN atomic energy agency has once again verified the non-diversion of declared nuclear material in Iran.

In his last meeting as director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Mohamed ElBaradei, however, said that there were still some issues that need clarification.

"There has been no movement on remaining issues of concern which need to be clarified for the agency to verify the exclusively peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear program,� AP quoted ElBaradei as saying.

ElBaradei's comments came in the form of a statement read-out before the IAEA's 35-member board of governors.

The IAEA has commenced two days of talks over a range of topics — including a draft resolution over Iran's nuclear energy program.

The Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) members at the IAEA board of governors have already voiced their opposition to a resolution against Iran.

The US and its allies have been pressuring Iran to accept a deal to send its low-enriched uranium abroad in exchange for nuclear fuel for its Tehran research reactor.

Iran wants the swap to be carried-out on its soil, saying the West cannot be trusted.

ElBaradei also stressed that world powers should choose dialogue instead of threats in engaging Iran.

He hoped Iran would agree with the UN-brokered proposal "to alleviate the concerns" over the country's nuclear program.

"We need to give the time for the Iranians to say 'yes' and do whatever we can to get them to say yes because that is a long term solution in my view," he said.

ElBaradei
- Homepage: http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=112255&sectionid=351020104


Iranian Parliament speaker criticizes West's dual attitude on Iran

01.12.2009 21:32

Iran's Speaker of the Parliament (Majlis) Ali Larijani has deplored West's double standards following the adaptation of a new resolution by the UN's nuclear watchdog against the Iranian nuclear program.

"We have faced an unusual and dual attitude by the P5+1 countries in recent days. These are states that claim to follow international rules and offer diplomatic solutions," Larijani said. "However, they bring discredit to the international bodies by their bullying attitude."

P5+1 countries refer to the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany that have been tasked to negotiate with Iran on its nuclear program.

[...]

The resolution by the 35-member International Atomic Energy Agency's Board of Governors, which was sponsored by Germany, calls on Iran to halt uranium enrichment and immediately freeze the construction of its Fordo nuclear facility, located near Qom.

The Fordo site will be Iran's second uranium enrichment plant, after the Natanz facility in central Iran, for the production of nuclear fuel enriched to the 5-percent level.

Iran says its nuclear program is solely meant for civilian applications of the technology and has called for the total eradication of all weapons of mass destruction.

Larijani
- Homepage: http://www.presstv.com/detail.aspx?id=112596&sectionid=351020104