With regards to Iran’s position on nuclear proliferation, it is compared to that of Iraq, a country that has already signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty but desires nuclear weapons. Iran is seeking to develop its nuclear program and has received assistance from countries such as China, North Korea, Russia, and Kazakhstan, causing concern in the West. CIA director Robert Gates testified that Iran was seeking a nuclear bomb and could have one by the year 2000 if the West does not prevent it. (Washington Post; Nov.)
Since 1991, Iran has sought to buy nuclear reactors to learn the technology. In 1992, it purchased reactors from former Soviet republics and China. Currently, only Israel in the Middle East owns nuclear weapons, which supports Iran’s case as it creates a superpower in the region. Iranian leaders have suggested that Muslim nations should acquire nuclear weapons to match Israel’s capabilities. Iraq is also trying to build a nuclear program and is even closer than Iran. Although Iran has signed the NPT, it does not agree with its contents. The treaty controls the export of nuclear technology to prevent the spread of atomic weapons.
Iran does not follow Non-Proliferation as they are trying to import information on how to make nuclear weapons. They have been attempting to build a nuclear missile and seeking information from outside the country. For years, Iran has tried to purchase information from China and recently from Russia. Ten private Russian companies were allegedly assisting Iran with nuclear technology. The United States has learned of this cooperation and imposed sanctions on those companies.
Nuclear information needs to fall under internal matters. The International Atomic Energy Agency and the United Nations should not try to regulate nuclear proliferation. Countries without nuclear weapons feel the need to protect themselves against countries that do have weapons, so they continue to develop ways to produce them. If any country has a protocol for anti-proliferation, it should be the United States. They have stopped Iran from buying and receiving nuclear information and materials from other countries many times.
Other anti-proliferation countries should see what the US has done with Iran and do the same. The IAEA should not be strengthened. Non-proliferation countries should take control of the countries that are still involved with proliferation.
For example, the United States stopped Iran in November of 1992 when it discovered that Iran was on the verge of obtaining nuclear equipment from China and Argentina. In 1994, Iran attempted to buy 1320 pounds of enriched uranium from Kazakhstan, but the United States successfully prevented it. Many countries have been stopped by the United States, and other anti-proliferation efforts can do the same. The committee can strengthen the UN’s efforts by providing new ways to prevent countries from providing or receiving nuclear information. If there were a way to protect countries against other nuclear countries in their region, it would ease proliferation. This way, countries would not feel unprotected if they do not have nuclear weapons.
