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Originally Posted by troung
No one has proved they are after a bomb. Iran does have energy needs which makes a case for nuclear power. Nuke programs for energy needs began under the Shah; they need energy and need to export oil to bring in foreign currency and further don't wish to rely on oil forever as one day it will be gone.
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Last summer, we said we were ready to help Iran develop a modern nuclear power industry. We also offered to hold off actions in the SC. We offered guaranteed supplies of fuel, help building power stations, and cooperation on research. We offered other trade benefits, lifting of sanctions, help in civilian aircraft tech and IT. Things that would be tremendous benefit to Iranians.
All they had to do was to demonstrate that their intentions are peaceful.
All offers were refused. Iran strung out Russia on the fuel deal purely for political gain in the SC.
The enrichment facility at Natanz was hidden from the IAEA, against NPT rules, as was the heavy water reactor being built at Arak. Iran only admitted to their existence in the face of incontrovertible evidence. They have yet to offer a convincing civilian-use rationale for the reactor at Arak, which can be used to produce Plutonium. They acquired UF6 from China outside the IAEA guidelines- not enough for a bomb, but enough to test their cascades.
Questions remain, such as why is the Iranian Military involved in the nuclear program? Why won't Iran give a full account of their dealings with A.Q. Khan? Why was Iran experimenting with Polonium-210, which has no use in power generation (but can be used to trigger a fission reaction)?
Iran is still some way from having the bomb, but there is no doubt in my mind whether or not that is their intent.
If the case against them wasn't stong, there is no way the SC would have voted unanimously against them.
Iran learned from Iraq. They watched as the US struggled for 13 years to enforce the sanctions They saw the power struggles in the SC, and how Saddam successfully manipulated the council. They have shown that they are quite adept at playing the big powers against each other for their own gain.