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Iran's
Nuclear Program A Concern To U.S. And Europe |
Posted:
01.26.05
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Talks between representatives of the European E3 -- Britain,
France and Germany -- and the Islamic Republic of Iran over that
country's desire to develop enriched uranium, a material used
for nuclear power and potentially nuclear weapons, have stalled.
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Though Iran temporarily stopped production of its uranium program
in November, at a meeting between the two groups in Geneva, Switzerland,
Iran refused the European countries' request for permanent "cessation"
or "dismantlement," according to the Associated Press.
"The two positions cannot coexist," said a diplomat who attended
the meeting. "If the impasse cannot be resolved, then there
will be no solution."
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U.S. - Iranian
relations |
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Highly enriched uranium is a radioactive material used to speed
up the chain reaction that sets off a nuclear weapon. While  many
countries develop low-enriched uranium at nuclear plants to generate
electricity, the highly enriched form suggests a weapon program.
Iran insists that its only objective is to generate power for
electricity.
But the United States and other countries have accused Iran of
developing weapons of mass destruction, despite signing the nuclear
Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) in 1970. Following President Bush's
inauguration on Jan. 20, Vice President Dick Cheney said Iran
topped a list of global "potential trouble spots."
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Potential
conflict with Iran |
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Recently, fears have arisen that the United States could engage
in a conflict with Iran similar to the war in Iraq, a war that
started because the United States believed Iraq possessed weapons
of mass destruction.
 Adding
to the furor, a January article in the New Yorker magazine written
by Pulitzer prize-winning journalist Seymour Hersh suggested that
the White House recently authorized U.S. special forces to conduct
secret missions in Iran to scope out potential military targets.
The White House has said that Hersh's article was filled with
errors and Iran has dismissed any notion of a U.S. military strike.
"We are eagerly looking for the American commandos to come
to Iran since they are chicks which would rapidly be picked up
by our eagles," Iran's intelligence minister said, according
to a Washington Post article.
Officially, the White House has said it favors a diplomatic approach
to dealing with Iran, according to British Foreign Secretary Jack
Straw, who flew to the United States this week to discuss the
Iranian threat.
 Meanwhile,
the defense minister of Israel, which is only 800 miles from Iran
and within striking distance of a nuclear missile, has said, "under
no circumstances would Israel be able to abide by nuclear weapons
in Iranian possession."
Israel has confirmed that it is working on measures to undermine
Iran's nuclear program, with senior leaders hinting that Israel
may take preemptive action if that is deemed necessary.
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Iran background |
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Iran is the largest country in the Middle East with a population
of 69 million. The country was known as Persia until 1935 and
later became an Islamic republic after conservative clerics overthrew
the monarchy.
 In
1979 a group of Iranian students seized the American Embassy in
the capital city of Tehran, taking 66 Americans hostage to protest
U.S. and Israeli policies. Known as the Iran hostage crisis, it
wasn't until the day President Ronald Reagan was inaugurated in
1981 that the standoff ended.
The United States has designated Iran a state sponsor of terrorism
and has imposed economic sanctions on the country. President Mohammad
Khatami presently rules the country, although most of the power
lies within the Council of Guardians, a group of religious leaders
elected by members of the clerical community.
--
Compiled by Kristina Nwazota for NewsHour Extra
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