¶ … Nuclear Crisis in Iran

At present there seems to be a failure in the efforts of international diplomacy to turn Iran away from pursuing a path of nuclear proliferation. The European Union, as in keeping with idealistic solutions of conciliation, offered a non-proliferation incentive package to Tehran in the beginning of summer 2005 which was "comprised of nuclear technology, trade advantages, and a security dialogue," and was "far from empty" in terms of the bonuses it offered (Dupre, 2007).

But Tehran rejected this package, and although an idealist might suggest another, more attractive offer, a realist solution seems more feasible. Furthermore, independent analysis suggests that there is no way that Iran's nuclear technology is designed for energy purposes alone, as Iran alleges. Furthermore, there is no right to enrich uranium under the Nuclear Proliferation Treaty, and Iran stands in flagrant violation of this stipulation. Also, "Tehran breached the Paris Agreement, resumed conversion, and undertook R&D enrichment and production of enriched uranium up to 3.5% with 164 centrifuges (April 2006) while testing a second cascade with the intention to install 3000 centrifuges by March 2007. This does not build trust" (Dupre, 2007).

Tehran's main revenue still comes from oil, and a realist would suggest hitting Iran where it could 'hurt' it, economically. This would mean threatening to isolate Iran from the international community by seeking other sources of oil on the part of the United States, unless Iran abides by the non-proliferation treaty, and that the U.S. should pressure Iran's major oil 'clients' to find other sources, with incentive packages offered to those states, such as India. Ultimately, "Iranian authorities know that there is no other alternative than Iran's integration in the international society and becoming a key constructive player in the region," and that it cannot become a rogue state like North Korea because it is dependant upon the commerce of oil with other nations (Dupre, 2007). Other nations that might be damaged by its nuclear capacity with economic and political leverage must capitalize upon this knowledge.

Works Cited

Dupre, Bruno. "Iran Nuclear Crisis: The Right Approach." Carnegie Endowment for Peace. Feb 2007. [11 Feb 2007] http://www.carnegieendowment.org/publications/index.cfm?fa=print&id=19002

Idealism." IR Theory. [11 Feb 2007]

http://www.irtheory.com/know.htm