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Can We Trust Iran With Nuclear Weapons?

Manuela Paraipan - 6/25/2005

For months now, many are asking: What is Iran's looking for in building nuclear weapons? Are the Ayatollahs looking for a more respected position among the Middle East states, or the total annihilation of Israel?

We do not know yet who will win the so-called democratically elections, but it almost does not matter because the President is merely a puppet, and all the decisions being taken by the religious Guardian Council. The Council handpicked all the participants who are allowed to run in the elections. As such, it is less about the people’s choice and more about the Guardian Council's preference. Holding elections does not mean that the mullahs' regime is a democratic one. One only has to remember that in Romania, a country heavily enslaved by Nicolae Ceausescu's communist regime for 50 years, there were Presidential elections and yet, the only one who ever had a chance to get the majority of the vote was Ceausescu because the Securitate (Romanian Secret Services) terrorized and manipulated Romanians into picking the “right” candidate.

Certainly, democracy should not be reduced to elections and votes. Elections results can be easily rigged and the voter-fraud scandal, which erupted in Iran, is a confirmation that election-rigging is not a strange notion to the Guardian Council.

No matter who wins the runoff in Iran, the problem of the nuclear weapons will not go away. With all the effort of the European Union, Iran did not show any sign that they will give up their ambition of becoming a nuclear power.

This being the case, many questioned the mullahs' reasons for having
nuclear materials. Is it for defense? But who is threatening the
Persian, Muslim country? No one so far - neither US, nor Israel threatened Iran with a military attack, and, indeed, building weapons of mass destruction only increases the odds that either US or Israel (or both) will strike Iran’s facilities or will even invade.

On the other hand, it’s doubtful that Iran's reasons for acquiring nuclear materials are peaceful. Serious people in Iran need many
other reforms, from social to political, from economic to democratic, before looking to become a nuclear power.

But if it's not to protect itself at a direct threat, then is Iran
looking to destroy someone? If we are to believe the Council’s words, then its aim is to completely destroy Israel.

Nonetheless, the political rhetoric of the Council may be meant merely for the masses, and as such, the purposely inflammatory and radical language against Israel may be mere rhetoric with the leadership not wanting to engage in nuclear warfare. Yet, who can guarantee such an outcome? Usually we take individuals, states and leaders at their word. If the Iranian leadership claims its aim is to totally destroy Israel, then until proven otherwise, the US and the world should believe them.

Some have argued that Iran is looking to strengthen its positions in the region, and to protect itself from a military attack. While it is understandable for Iran to look for a superior global position, the question remains whether it can be trusted with nuclear weapons and if there are any reasons to do so?

Looking at Iran's involvement in Iraq and more importantly in its
support for the Lebanese Islamic Hezbollah, I'd say no.

Iran founded Hezbollah, and remains one of the main supporters of its armed wing. Recently, the police from Ecuador arrested a group of drug dealers who apparently have sent 70% of their benefits to the Party of God (Hezbollah), which has been labeled as a terrorist group by the US. The money obtained from the sale of drugs were used by Hezbollah to fund the ongoing conflict between the Palestinians and the Israelis. What are the values the Iranian mullahs subscribe to, since apparently they have no problem to being connected - through Hezbollah - with a drugs cartel?

Once we understand that, a coherent policy can be developed regarding Iran's nuclear attempt.