Impacts of the Iranian Nuclear Program

Introduction

The Middle East is known as one crucial region of the globe, and it comes up with many considerations. It is one unfortunate reality of today that the specific region of the Middle East has been going through many forms of tensions and conflicts in recent years. There is evidence of many domestic and international causes, which can be characterized as the reason for the increasing form of bloodshed and dispute in the Middle East. The development and advancement of nuclear technology in the region are major concerns of international stakeholders as they can accelerate tension in specific areas of the Middle East (Denza, 2005). The role of Iran in the whole scenario of nuclear development and establishment in the Middle East cannot be ignored.

Iran is considered the major factor in creating the situation of imbalance by initiating the idea of the nuclear program. Many countries at the international scale fear that the adaptability and implication of nuclear features in Iran ultimately increase the facet of hate that prevails between the different countries of the Middle East. It is anticipated that the step of nuclear expansion from Iran will ultimately lead the world to a disastrous nuclear war. The international organizations of the United Nations and many developed countries are immensely concerned about the burning issue of peace deterioration and the facet of the nuclear program initiated by Iran. International stakeholders want to resolve the issue through effective communication and effective diplomacy (Bruno, 2010).

The particular focus is to convince Iran about the consideration of international peace and the feature of regional peace. It is notable to mention that the inflexible behavior of Iran turned the prospect of the nuclear program into an international crisis, which needs to be resolved on an immediate basis to avoid drastic implications. The severity of the relationship between Iran and the international patrons demands that it be considered as one major issue and that necessary steps be taken to address the issue effectively. The aim of this research paper is to assess the prospect of Iran’s nuclear program while considering its strategic implications for the world.

Historical Background of Iran’s Nuclear Program

It is crucial to explore the brief history of the particular nuclear program initiated by Iran to attain the form of power and authority in the region. Iran started taking an interest in the establishment and advancement of nuclear technology in the 1950s. The facet of the nuclear program is that the country got its foundations when the government of the United States of America provided technical aid to the Shah of Iran. The Atoms for Peace program provides the essential starting point for the country of Iran to take an interest in the advancement of nuclear technology. It is crucial to indicate that this assistance program between the U.S. and Iran ended after the revolution of Iran in 1979, but the country still wants to expand its facet of nuclear technology and development.

The turning point of the initiative of the nuclear program of Iran particularly related to the extensive form of fuel cycle which was adopted by Iran. The aim of the country was to consider different features of sophisticated enrichment capabilities under the paradigm of the fuel cycle. The developments of nuclear technology in the case of Iran become the reason for the different sorts of international negotiations and sanctions on Iran. The objective of these particular sanctions between the years 2002 and 2015 is to regulate the facet of nuclear technology in the case of Iran. The particular phenomenon of negotiations between the P5 Plus One and Iran comes with the consideration of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in 2015. The particular feature related to this action plan is the nuclear agreement for the 25-years (Kerr, 2014). The objective of this agreement is to restrict the country of Iran from nuclear expansion in exchange for relief for the country from different sanctions imposed by international stakeholders.

Due to the particular agreement, Iran significantly dismisses plenty of uranium-enriching centrifuges with the inclusion of the form of low-enriched uranium to Russia. Iran also demolished the feature of the heavy water reactor, which was the reason for the tons of plutonium. The country of Iran ensures the capability of reconfiguring the reactor with the consideration of the lower productivity of plutonium (Goldschmidt, 2010). The agreement of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) also ensures the limit of the capacity of Iran concerning nuclear advancement. The country of Iran comes with the assurance to never exceed the present range of nuclear technology for at least ten years.

The agreement under the paradigm of JCPOA was dismissed after the existence of the controversy in the case of Iran’s nuclear program. In 2002, the international community immensely focused on the development of the nuclear technology adopted by Iran. It all started with the feature of the two particular nuclear sites, which provided indications about the displaced Iranian resistance group. The specific dispute related to Iran’s nuclear program started when the international community came to the realization that Iran had built or was building all the elements related to the generation of the enriched form of uranium (Toft, 2005). That particular development adopted by Iran is considered as the particular approach in the provision of nuclear weapons and also the facet of nuclear reactors.

Undoubtedly, it was a major concern for the world as it can be considered as the initiative taken by Iran to disturb the balance of the region by applying an advanced form of nuclear technology. The specific sites of nuclear development in Iran were explored, such as the uranium mine at Saghand, a nuclear plant near the area of Ardakan. The uranium enrichment plant at Natanz was another feature threat related to Iran’s nuclear program, for which different countries have their reservations. The different forms of nuclear exposure hidden by Iran make the organization of IAEA vigilant about the features of responsibilities and assessment related to the nuclear program adopted by the country. It is considered as the responsibility of the organization of IAEA to critically monitor and verify the nuclear-related activities adopted by Iran.

For many years, Iran maintained its particular nuclear program as the form of the legal and authorized facet with the consideration of the membership as the one non-nuclear-weapon country under the paradigm of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). The focus of the country was to establish its nuclear program as a peaceful paradigm without risk or any kind of threat to the region and to the world from a broader perspective. As a member of the NPT, Iran comes with the consideration to develop the feature of nuclear energy for the sake of peaceful objectives (Squassoni, 2005). The overall feature of the nuclear program in Iran is impacted by the reservation raised by the United States of America. The government of the US comes with the argument that there is no need for the application of a nuclear program in the case of Iran as it only involves the intention of the destruction in the specific form of different nuclear weapons. The particular concern of the United States of America makes Iran’s nuclear program the one crucial issue that needs to be addressed to maintain an effective approach to peace in the region.

In 2003, the issue of the Iranian nuclear program accelerated as the tracks of nuclear power were kept secret by the country and never considered the aspect of the IAEA agreement. The government of Iran fails to provide necessary evidence related to the elements of transactions and different nuclear activities. It is notable to mention that the government of the country was firm about their nuclear activities and considered it as their right to attain the facility of nuclear technology to safeguard their country. The U.S. government tried to convince Iran to give up its nuclear program to maintain the prospect of necessary peace in the region, but the Iranian government stuck to its aggressive attitude towards its nuclear program.

NPT Obligations and Iran

Undoubtedly, nuclear weapons are an immense form of threat to the whole world. The world community is trying to take different necessary measures to maintain the peace prospects. The engagement of all the countries is crucial to sustaining peace and avoiding different forms of destruction. The particular form of the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT) is the one influential effort to develop an effective framework to address the issue of security around the world. The focus of this particular treaty is to restrict countries from the unfair establishment of nuclear technology. Iran was also a member of this international agreement but deviated from the agreement with the development of nuclear resources. The particular steps of nuclear development by Iran ultimately increase the strategic threat for the region and for the whole world. Regional stability is affected by the particular nuclear program initiated and sustained by Iran (Bowen & Brewer, 2011). The particular agreement between Iran and the United States of America might hinder the prospect of the nuclear program in the case of Iran, but there is much evidence that she has the potential and urge to again start its nuclear program which is problematic for the whole world.

The world is still unable to resolve the issue of Iran’s nuclear program as the country believes that it is its right to adopt the feature of nuclear energy, which comes up with the intention of peace and benefit for all. The country of Iran comes with the argument that it is their right to approach the paradigm of peaceful nuclear technology. She is also ready to ensure the features of the ‘three Ss’ can be identified in the form of proper facilities related to the operation, necessary security of all the facilities, and the facet of materials. The country of Iran has the stance that it is their legal right to take necessary measures related to the feature of nuclear technology. The government of the country also came up with the consideration that the enrichment of uranium is not something that can lead to the development of nuclear weapons. Despite the argument presented by Iran, it is the reality that all the existing indicators are going against Iran’s presented approach. There is a major difference between the ground realities and the point of view raised by Iran about the matter of the nuclear program.

Implications of Iran’s Nuclear Program on Regional Stability

It is crucial to critically identify and assess different implications that might be faced by the region in case of the continuation of the Iranian nuclear program. The feature of the nuclear program in the case of Iran has a long history of going through different forms of development. The prospect of the nuclear program started with the collaboration of Iran and the United States of America when the U.S. provided necessary technical assistance to Iran. This form of cooperation between these two countries ended due to the prospect of Pahlavi. After that time, all the governments of the United States of America followed a powerful stance in diplomatic relations with Iran. The relationship between America and Iran is affected by the nuclear program adopted by Iran (Goldschmidt, 2009). Relationships between the following countries become so bad that Iran declares America as their number one enemy. Different unpleasant events also occurred from time to time, which enhanced the tension between these two nations. Making hostage diplomats of the U.S. Embassy in Iran was one example that indicates the adverse diplomatic relationship between these two countries.

The implications of Iran’s nuclear program can also be observed in the Iran-Iraq relationship. The feature of war between these two countries ultimately affects the feature of Iran’s nuclear program. Iraq frequently bombed the different nuclear installations established by Iran to destroy the paradigm of Iran’s nuclear program. Another particular approach that is witnessed in the case of the nuclear program of Iran is that Israel also attacks nuclear plants in the country of Iran. The adoption of the nuclear program by Iran ultimately become the reason for the dispute and conflict in the region of the Middle East. Each nation wants to sustain its hold in the region by attaining more and more power. It is also notable to mention that the first Gulf War of 1991 also played a major role in Iran’s stance over the establishment of the nuclear program. After the war, the country of Iran came up with the approach that she could only sustain its better position in the region with the facet of credible deterrence and self-defense. The nation of Iran was completely convinced that only the development of an effective nuclear program could ensure the stability of Iran in the region.

Another crucial aspect of regional politics that significantly impacts the establishment of Iran’s nuclear program. The U.S. sustains its strong position in the region by maintaining an effective relationship with Saudi Arabia, which ultimately threatens the position of Iran in the region. It is another critical factor that encourages Iran to focus its nuclear program and take necessary measures to make a strong position with the help of nuclear power. Iran wants to establish credible security features in order to protect itself from regional threats. Iran successfully attained strategic partners in the form of China and Russia, which provided necessary nuclear assistance to Iran. China provides an effective form of Uranium conversion to Iran, which helps the nation to effectively establish the feature of the nuclear program. Iran also became able to contract with Russia in 1995 to get nuclear aid for one of its crucial nuclear plants.

The declaration of Islamic revolution by Iran also makes it immensely conscious of its nuclear program of Iran. The country of the United States of America is immensely concerned about Iran’s nuclear program as it is perceived as a major threat to the country of Israel and the economic and strategic interests of America in the region of the Middle East. This particular form of concern of America appears due to the behavior of Iranian leadership against the strategic interests of America and Israel. The Iranian government openly threatens the existence of Israel and America, referring to the establishment and development of the nuclear program, which ultimately leads to the adverse and dangerous form of nuclear weapons.

All the countries of the Middle East are also concerned about Iran’s nuclear program as they consider it a threat to the prospect of peace in the case of the whole world. Saudi Arabia and all the GCC countries have a strong stance over the feature of Russian technology, which was applied by Iran to enhance its facet of the nuclear program. The government of Saudi Arabia also shows its concern from time to time. They come up with the concern that although Iran does not have the potential to threaten Saudi Arabia, the country of Iran should consider the peace prospect for the whole world. It is the duty of Iran to consider the concerns of all the stakeholders and take necessary measures to ensure the facet of world peace. The most crucial prospect associated with Iran’s nuclear program is that it is not acceptable for Israel and America at any cost. America considers all the possible options to restrict Iran from developing its nuclear program or featuring nuclear weapons, as it can be a major threat to the sustainability of many countries.

Conclusion

To conclude the debate about the strategic implications of Iran’s nuclear program, it is crucial to mention that many stakeholders are actively involved in the overall prospect of this particular issue. Countries have their own interests to favor or oppose the paradigm of the nuclear programs and establishment of nuclear weapons by Iran. It is crucial for the international community to critically consider all the factors of risks associated with the paradigm of Iran’s nuclear program. The necessary measures should be established to ensure the facet of peace in all countries. The comprehensive strategy should be adaptable to address the issue of security in Iran and the prospect of peace interests for the whole region.

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