Michael Stubler Geography of the Middle East 4/10/12

Why Iran feels they have the right to nuclear capabilities

The purpose of this paper is to present the reader with a basic background of knowledge about the Iranian Nuclear Program and to provide the reader with information on the potential impact that nuclear program can cause on the region. The body of this paper will consist of a summary of the history of the nuclear program, why Iran feels they want and need the capabilities to produce nuclear facilities, and lastly the potential consequences, the outcomes and the conclusion. The Iranian government wants the option of having nuclear capabilities for energy reasons. Other major players in this issue like the United States and Israel feel like Iran wants the nuclear capabilities for reasons other than energy. Iranian possession of nuclear weapons and a long range missile distribution system will affect the conduct in the region. The development of Irans nuclear program began in the mid-1960s under the watchful eye of the United States and agreements between the two countries. The first nuclear facility built by the Shah was the Tehran Nuclear Research Center, in 1967 and ran by Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (Iran-Wikipedia, 2012). Here is a map of the country of Iraq to show where

Michael Stubler Geography of the Middle East 4/10/12 the city of Tehran is located (Lonely Planet, 2011).

Figure 1 Map of Iran (Lonely Planet, 2011) This is one of Irans prime nuclear research facilities. In 1968, Iran authorized the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, and approved it in 1970. This subjected Irans nuclear program to the verification of the International Atomic Energy Agency. By the mid-1970s, Iran had launched a massive nuclear energy program. The 1973 war between the Arab countries and Israel increased the price of oil and provided the Shahs government resources for Irans development (Hader, 2012). The United States encouraged Iran to broaden their non-oil energy base and recommended several nuclear reactors. Supporting and building these reactors was a good way for the United States to recuperate the cost of the oil it was buying from Iran. The 1979 Iranian revolution toppled the Shahs government and discontinued the programs expansion for a number of years. Then the Iraq-Iran war used resources and damaged Irans existing nuclear infrastructure. Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjanis revitalized Irans nuclear program in the late 1980s during his presidency. Iran was able to recover from the war 2

Michael Stubler Geography of the Middle East 4/10/12 with Iraq with support from Russia, China, and Pakistan. Iran continued to advance by the early 1990s. During the 1990s Iran received help from individuals in Russia and China, regardless of the occasional guarantees from governments to reduce nuclear assistance (Kerr, 2009). Iran is believed, and through the black market ran by a Pakistani scientist, to have acquired uranium enrichment technology. These deals allowed Iran to make significant advancement in its nuclear effort. In 2003, the scope of its nuclear program became clear when mastering the technology to make enriched uranium, which is used to fuel a nuclear weapon. This is troubling for worldwide security (Tsoran, 2007). Nuclear experiments were conducted in violation of its inspection agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency. Iran was forced to provide new information and explain the purpose of this work. Iran continued to instigate conflict by refusing to cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency, European Union, and United Nations. In April of 2006, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad announced that Iran had successfully enriched uranium. There was an urgent demand to stop the enrichment but Iran declined to end it but proposed to negotiate. Since then the United Nations Security Council passed numerous resolutions on Iran that included an arms embargo. Irans purposes for the nuclear program are for an independent nuclear fuel cycle. There is a fear that negotiations may lead to divergence from a nuclear program. If the West, or the United States and the United Nations, continue to stall, the nuclear program will continue but the choice between civilian capability and weaponization will be decided by the course of events. Iran wants the West to stop doubting the legitimacy of its program in fear that it will discourage from the nuclear objective and initiate instability in the region (Kerr, 2012). The nuclear production is a critical issue that would prevent foreign powers from seeking to deny Iran as a major international and technological power. 3

Michael Stubler Geography of the Middle East 4/10/12 An outcome of the program is that Iran wants to become a regional power through a coalition with the United States. With the production of nuclear energy, the Iranian economy will reach a more stable and expandable state. Iran also believes that there are security reasons that play a role in the nuclear situation. Surrounding nuclear powers are also felt as a threat to security and believe to be a source of Americas standards to Irans program. Irans unwillingness to participate in further talks with the United States is no shock based off the number of insecurities in the region (Olney, 2010). Gaining civilian nuclear capacity would give Iran security and psychological edge at a lower cost than a nuclear arsenal. The hope is that the presence of a nuclear fuel cycle could help avoid any attacks by outside countries. Iran as a country and the Iranian citizens feel the right to have nuclear capabilities is no other countrys choice. The conflict and strife of the debate of Irans nuclear program is very well still going on but one day will end. Someone will eventually give in or give up to the other ones requests or there will be a growing tension that could escalate into war. Right now, there are multiple outcomes that may or may not happen. One outcome is Iran will back down to the United States/ United Nations request. Whether or not that will actually happen is hard to say just yet. Iran is not going to give up just that easily for what Iran wants and believe the right to possess. Most likely, when Iran does not meet the United Nations requirements, it could very well lead to some sort of military action. Israel or the United Nations would be obligated to launch a bombing campaign on Irans nuclear sites and facilities. The Israelis have potential planned out bombing routes in order to bomb Iran as you can see here in Figure 2 (Hader, 2012).

Michael Stubler Geography of the Middle East 4/10/12

Figure 2 Israeli Bombing Routes (Hader, 2012) Military action would be the absolute last resort. Another outcome is that each side agrees to an open nuclear policy where nothing would be kept in secret. Each country would come to an understanding and have certain regulations to what would be acceptable and what would not be acceptable. Iran is getting closer to gaining nuclear capabilities that can produce weapons which is why this is becoming a problem. Iran wants and feels the right to have nuclear capabilities (Tsoran, 2007). Once again, Iranian possession of nuclear weapons and a long range missile distribution system will affect the conduct in the region. All the reasons, views and outcomes have been presented. It is just a matter of time and negotiations to see what outcome will really happen.

Michael Stubler Geography of the Middle East 4/10/12 Works Cited Olney, Robert D. "Saudi Arabia gives Israel clear skies to attack Iranian nuclear sites." The World Assessor: Critical Insights to world events, foreign affairs and Middle Eastern politics. http://worldassessor.blogspot.com/2010/06/saudi-arabia-gives- israel-clear-skies.html (accessed April 05, 2012). "Map of Iran." Lonely Planet. http://www.lonelyplanet.com/maps/middle-east/iran/ (accessed April 06, 2012). Tsoran, Zvi. "THE IMPACT OF THE IRANIAN NUCLEAR PROGRAM ON THE MIDDLE EAST." http://www.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?AD=ada469126 (accessed April 03, 2012). Kerr, Paul K. "Iran's Nuclear Program: Status." Congressional Research Service. http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/nuke/RL34544.pdf (accessed April 02, 2012). "Nuclear program of Iran." Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_program_of_Iran (accessed April 04, 2012). Tepper, Greg. "Israeli TV report shows air force gearing-up for Iran attack, says moment of truth is near." The Times of Israel. http://www.timesofisrael.com/iaf-plans-for- iran-attack/ (accessed April 15, 2012). Hadar, Leon T. What happens after an Iran-Israel War? Ya Libnan. http://www.yalibnan.com/2012/02/10/what-happens-after-an-iran-israel-war/ (accessed April 02, 2012)