IRAN: The Bush doctrine

Iran is in Washington's crosshairs. What comes next? Reuters (6/24/03) tells us that a Bush ban on Iranian nukes is US doctrine: US President George Bush declared last week that the US would not tolerate a nuclear-armed Iran. Senior US officials say Bush's comments were not off the cuff, but reflected a deliberate policy decision. According to the The New York Times, a senior US official said that Bush's message had been thought out and premeditated. "It's not like this spilled out," he said, noting that Bush has been extensively involved in talks with aides about Iran recently. In Tehran, Iranian President Mohammad Khatami said shortly before Bush's remarks that his country is not trying to build nuclear weapons. But Bush has so far offered no strategy on how to prevent Tehran from building atomic weapons. While experts believe the US government will be considering a military strike against Iranian nuclear facilities - Washington for the moment is concentrating on diplomacy. Inspectors from the UN nuclear watchdog, the IAEA, said that they had found a nuclear-enrichment program in Iran that could be used to develop nuclear weapons. The US had hoped the agency would condemn Iran's failure to comply with international nuclear safeguards, but the IAEA instead urged Iran to sign an Additional Protocol that would allow wider nuclear inspections by the agency. Khatami has said that Iran is prepared to allow unfettered inspections by the IAEA but expects the international community to recognize Iran's right to acquire advanced, peaceful nuclear technology. Iran bought 1.8 tons of uranium in 1991 and started building facilities to enrich uranium without telling the IAEA. But it added that Iran is taking steps to correct the situation. RH: All this overlooks the fact that the Middle East will be unwilling to live in perpetuity under the threat of Israeli nuclear missiles.

Ronald Hilton - 7/1/03