IRAN ‘S NUCLEAR PROGRAM

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I.                 General background

1.     What are Iran nuclear weapons?

A nuclear weapon is an explosive device that derives its destructive force from nuclear reactions, either fission or a combination of fission and fusion.

Nuclear weapons are the most dangerous weapons on earth.  One can destroy a whole city, potentially killing millions, and jeopardizing the natural environment and lives of future generations through its long-term catastrophic effects.

The nuclear program of Iran was launched in the 1950s with the help of the United States as part of the Atoms for Peace program. The Iranian nuclear program is a contentious and closely monitored issue in international politics. The Tehran government has rapidly advanced its nuclear program over the past decade, which it claims is for peaceful civilian purposes. But the international community, led by Western nations, believe the program is designed to create nuclear weapons.

2.     History

The foundations for Iran's nuclear program were laid on 5 March 1957

In 1967, the Tehran Nuclear Research Center (TNRC) was established

The Shah approved plans to construct, with U.S. help, up to 23 nuclear power stations by 2000

Iran's first nuclear power plant, officially opened on 12 September 2011. Iran has announced that it is working on a new 360 MW nuclear power plant to be located in Darkhovin.

The Russian engineering contractor Atomenergoprom said the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant would reach full capacity by the end of 2012.

Iran has also indicated that it will seek more medium-sized nuclear power plants and uranium mines in the future.

II.            Reactions of related nations

Iran’s viewpoint

In 2003, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) first reported that Iran had not declared sensitive enrichment and reprocessing activities. Enrichment can be used to produce uranium for reactor fuel or (at higher enrichment levels) for weapons. Iran says its nuclear program is peaceful,and has enriched uranium to less than 5%, consistent with fuel for a civilian nuclear power plant. Iran also claims that it was forced to resort to secrecy after US pressure caused several of its nuclear contracts with foreign governments to fall through

US sanction against Iran

U.S. government has applied sanctions in many fields with Iran’s nuclear program. President Bush said that Iran's pursuit of nuclear weapons could trigger "World War III", while in 2007 Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns warned that Iran may be seeking a nuclear weapons capability

For example:

The U.S. government on 23/5 has announced new sanctions against 20 individuals and entities associated with Iran because the missile program and its nuclear Islamic Republic.

In a statement, the U.S. Treasury Department accused 20 individuals and entities Iranian cargo resupply and provide essential services to the weapons program and Tehran's nuclear secrets.

The Ministry of Finance said that the new measures to increase pressure on Tehran by tightening the sanctions against Iran's energy sector and expose the network involved in nuclear proliferation.

In an effort to cut funds for Iran's nuclear program, the U.S. government announced sanctions against an eight companies in the petrochemical industry of the Middle Eastern countries and provide a warning to customers doing business with the company.

In the list of companies that punished the U.S. Treasury Department launched a number of petrochemical companies owned by the Iranian government or company control as Bandar Imam Petrochemical Company Bou Ali Sina Petrochemical and Mobin Petrochemical company.

Some countries’s point and reactions:

Iran has held a series of meetings with a group of six countries: China, France, Germany, Russia, United Kingdom, United States. These six are known as the P5+1 (the permanent five members of the UN Security Council plus Germany). These meetings are intended to resolve concerns about Iran's nuclear program.

Chinese viewpoint

In January 2012, Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao strongly criticized Iran's nuclear program, saying that China "adamantly opposes Iran developing and possessing nuclear weapons", while warning Iran against closing the Straits of Hormuz, which would be viewed as an act of aggression amongst most countries. In regards to business deals with Iran, Prime Minister Jiabao explianed that these deals were separate from diplomatic deals

Japanese viewpoint

On 13 January 2012, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda said that he had "strong concerns" regarding Iran's nuclear program, and that this concern is shared by the international community. Noda said that "it is Japan's basic stance to see a diplomatic and peaceful solution to the issue." In addition, Noda said that over a period of five years, Japan has reduced its imports of crude oil from Iran by about 40%.

Indian viewpoint

India's rapidly developing ties with the United States and historically close ties with Iran have created difficulties for India's foreign policy makers. India, a nuclear power which is not party to the NPT, has expressed its concern over the possibility of another nuclear weapon-armed state in its neighborhood with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh stating that he was against Iran acquiring nuclear weapons. India voted in the IAEA Board of Governors to report Iran to UN Security Council in 2005 for non-compliance with its NPT safeguards agreement. Despite some domestic opposition, the Indian government later voted to report Iran to the UN Security Council in 2006.^] Leftist parties in India have criticized the government for bowing to US pressure on the issue.

III.        Prediction

From 2003 – 2013, there are many negotiations between Iran and P5+1 to search solution. They gave many proposals but they are not succeeded because of no concession from 2 sides. The situation become more and more obstructive. In our opinion, Nuclear problem of Iran will have 3 scripts occurred in the next time…

1. Iran concessions:

U.S and P5+1 and Iran would resume talks under the supervision of the IAEA and the international community. Iran will agree to sign a termination agreement to stop developing nuclear weapons and issues related to nuclear.

At the same time, the U.S. and UN must agree with a few requirements of Iran.

2. Ignorance of US and UN:

When all sanctions against Iran were ineffective. Even as it makes Iran more and more powerful to gain nuclear weapons. Moreover, if US and UN touch the oil-rich country like Iran, everythingss will be worse if Iran stops exporting oil. The concessions by the United States to ignore the Iranian nuclear issue and recognize that Iran as a country with nuclear weapons as the 5 permanent members of the UN.

3. No concessions:

U.S and UN will grow stronger with more severe sanctions. However, Iran will absolutely ignore it, they just do what they want. Two tough attitudes will make all the talks and negotiations failed. The situation is increasingly tense. A War could happen anytime.  Nuclear war could cause World war 3.

 No matter what happens, we hope that Iran will soon be solved to bring peace in the world.

Sources:

http://www.iranwatch.org/our-publications/history-irans-nuclear-program

http://www.un.org/disarmament/WMD/Nuclear/

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