Editorial: U.S. should pressure Iran diplomatically

Although Iran continues to press forward with disturbing weapon
technology projects, the United States must not consider extreme
solutions such as military strikes or a CIA-initiated coup.
President Bush should restrict U.S. pressure on Iran to legitimate
forms, such as diplomatic sanctions.

Bush must also remember that despite the recent military
overthrow of Saddam Hussein’s regime in Iraq, interventionist
policies have a spotty record of success. Ideally, a bilateral
agreement should be reached through negotiation. Something must be
done to block the reported Iranian nuclear and biological missile
weapons programs. A nuclear Iran, armed with long-range missiles,
would present a tremendous threat to Europe, substantially
complicating the U.S. role in the NATO alliance. Israel, a
historical U.S. ally, would also be threatened. In the worst-case
scenario, a new Cold War could begin, with Iran taking the place of
the Soviet Union as a threat to liberal democracy.

Such a scenario, though unlikely, may be possible. The Iranian
Bushehr nuclear reactor ““ built by Russian workers ““ is
nearly complete. Ostensibly designed to provide 1000 megawatts of
electrical power, the reactor is also capable of producing
weapons-grade plutonium. According to www.globalsecurity.org, Iran
could simply replace fuel rods before they are converted to Pu-240,
thus creating weapon-useable waste products.

President Bush has mentioned this nuclear program as a trouble
spot for United States-Iranian relations. Some analysts have even
predicted that the United States may consider precision strikes
designed to destroy it before it begins operations.

But before such a rash action occurs, other options should be
considered. For example, Russia has offered to reclaim spent fuel
rods from the reactor, thus making it impossible for them to be
used in weapons. Also, Iran has said the reactor’s main
purpose is to provide electrical power. If this is true, the United
States should help them explore other options, such as oil-based
power plants.

Politically, Iran must meet the United States halfway ““ it
should stop supporting terrorism of any form and should also
clearly define its long term defense goals. It should also assure
Israel and Europe that it will use its military only
defensively.

Baring U.S. action, Iran’s status as a global nuclear
power may not be far away. According to U.S. government sources,
the Shahab-5 missile is under development and would give Iran a
near-intercontinental range. Before Iran deploys such a weapon, the
United States should work to convince Iran that it does not need
nuclear weapons or long-range missiles.

Since the Carter presidency, the U.S. government has had a
policy against the use of nuclear weapons on non-nuclear states.
The Bush administration is the first government to abandon this
policy ““ thus causing nations such as Iran to harden their
own nuclear ambitions.

Until a more permanent solution arises, a return to
Carter’s policy would help ease current tensions. However,
Iran must also prove that it is not seeking to gain an offensive
nuclear umbrella for future military options.