Iran's Nuclear Ambition

Iran has announced that it will restart its nuclear program by continuing to increase its ability to accomplish steps A-Z in the production of nuclear material. As I, and many other critics of the war in Iraq have said, the pre-emptive war in Iraq gives Iran no other option but to develop its nuclear capabilities as quickly as possible.

It should be no surprise to anyone that Iran is moving forward now, when it is at its strongest and the US is at its weakest. Realpolitik dictates that you have to look at zero sum game from both your and your adversaries perspectives. In Iran's eyes, the only way to pre-empt Bush's doctrine of per-emptive war is to actually posses nuclear weapons.

This is only one in the many ways that the invasion of Iraq will make us less safe in the long run.

Iran Resumes Uranium Conversion Efforts

By ALI AKBAR DAREINI, Associated Press Writer

TEHRAN, Iran - Iran resumed uranium conversion activities at its Isfahan nuclear facility Monday, a step that Europeans and the United States warned would prompt them to seek U.N. sanctions against Tehran.
Work resumed at the conversion facility quickly after inspectors from the U.N. nuclear watchdog finished installing surveillance equipment there and seals on equipment were removed.

The move came a day before the International Atomic Energy Agency, the U.N. nuclear watchdog, is to hold an emergency meeting at which it could consider referring Tehran to the U.N. Security Council, which could impose sanctions. Germany, France and the U.S. have said they would likely recommend doing so if work at Isfahan resumes.

Iran had suspended work at the plant and its other nuclear facilities in November to avoid sanctions and as a gesture in negotiations with the Europeans.

The resumption escalates a confrontation between Iran and the West over its nuclear program, which the Europeans have been trying to persuade the Iranians to sharply limit.

But Iran on Saturday rejected European proposals for it to curtail the program in return for economic incentives.

Germany, France and the United States have said that if Iran restarts work in Isfahan, they would seek to have Tehran referred to the U.N. Security Council, which could impose economic sanctions.

The United States accuses Iran of seeking to develop nuclear weapons, while Iran insists its program aims only to produce electricity.

Iran also has insisted it has the right to develop the entire fuel cycle — from raw uranium to the fuel for a reactor. Europe fears that if Iran can develop fuel on its own, it also will secretly produce material for a bomb.

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