Should Iran abandon its nuclear programme?

The big five of the United Nations Security Council Members, who possess nuclear weapons, are also discreetly divided. Britain, France and Germany, led by the United States, vehemently oppose Iran's nuclear programme while Russia and China appear to have taken the most calculated and lenient view of the issue. Obviously, all the connected parties view this issue from the perspective of their political, strategic and economic interests. Geo-strategically Islamic Republic of Iran is situated in the vicinity of Israel -- the most trusted, number one ally and major recipient of US financial and non-financial assistance. The state of Israel, brokered by western powers, was installed after the Second World War in the forcefully occupied Palestinian lands turning the Palestinians into virtual refugees. Since then Israel has been playing the role of shadow pentagon of the US in the Middle East with all its might and mane.

In 1981, Israel attacked the nuclear facilities of Iraq and destroyed them through remote control device. The next prey of the US-Israeli duo was Libyan nuclear infrastructures. After the fall of Iraq scared Libyan leader surrendered unconditionally before the US without being attacked militarily. The Libyan government dismantled its nuclear infrastructure, bundled and shipped out all the debris to Uncle Sam. The latest target of the US-Israeli entente is Iran. Intriguingly, North Korea's name appears to have been banished from their hit list for the time being or forever, God only knows. All attention is now focused on how to tame Iran; pressure is mounting, day in and day out.

Reports have it that the deposed Shah of Iran first kicked off the nuclear programme under the tacit approval and technological support of the US. Later on, the programme was suspended and the US supply line was snapped following the overthrow of Shah and take over of the Iranian governance by the Revolutionary forces under the leadership of Ayatollah Khomeini. Incidentally, the Islamic Republic of Iran is being presided over now by such a personality who was once one of the mastermind proponents of the Iranian Revolution. Iranian governments in the past have been trying to attain self-sufficiency in power generation in order to meet the demand for adequate and constant supply of electricity. Mr. Ahmedinejad, the undaunted leader as he seems, keeps on trying too, to develop the much needed and talked about nuclear programme for commercial use. As bad luck would have it his antagonists smell a rat.

Israel is widely believed to possess a good number of nuclear weapons, whereas Israeli authorities as well as their mentor, the US, are keeping mum on the issue. They admit assert nor brush aside the allegation -- a tactic just to hoodwink the peace-loving people around the globe. So far as available reports go Israel has already installed over two hundred nuclear devices in its Demona nuclear sites. It also tested a device in the year 1979 as per a US research disclosure. The US, EU allies and International watch dog like U.N. and International Atomic Energy Agency also appear to be perfunctorily dealing with the issue.

Big global oil consumers have focussed their total attention on the vast Iranian oil reserves -- the second largest after the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Secondly, Islam-phobia is the major irritant for the US, EU and their allies. Iran is officially an Islamic Republic and the people are pledge-bound to uphold their national interest and ideological values at any cost. In the past, the US-led coalition has disbanded Afghanistan and Iraq on fake pleas. Are they contemplating to do the same in case of Iran?

M. A. Binyamin is a freelance contributor.