Nuclear Weapon and International Relations - Research Paper Example

International Relations Table of Contents Introduction 3 Background of the Problem 3 Thesis ment 4 The Issues Related to the Problem 5 Challenges or Obstacles to Resolve the Problem 8 Possible Solutions to the Problem 10 Recommendations 11 Conclusion 12 References 14 Introduction Background of the Problem Nuclear weapon can be considered as one of the most vicious weapons that were ever invented possessing the capability of causing significant impacts both on the countries’ development along with its economic conditions. However, owing to its virtues towards international security and dominant power, various countries have opted to keep hold of such terrible weapon, abiding by the treaty of Non-Proliferation. Illustratively, the nuclear ambition program of Iran took place during the 1950s with the association of a US based research reactor, located in Tehran. Periodically, a striving nuclear program pursued in Teheran during the year of 1970. As per the contemporaneous documents of US, it was apparently mentioned that the nuclear ambition of Iran was intensely focused on producing 10-20 nuclear power reactors and more than 20,000 megawatts of nuclear power by the year of 1994. The nuclear power of Iran was commenced as a light-water nuclear power reactor to be placed near the city of Bushehr. Effectively, uranium enrichment technology and producing nuclear weapons has also been instigated in the city of Teheran1. There are certain reasons that can be identified behind embarking nuclear programs within the countries. According to the present scenario, the global countries seek to adopt the nuclear programs for effective and instant security and thereby protect it from external security threats. Furthermore, the nuclear programs adopted by countries are often considered as an establishment of apparent coercions and distrust within the global environment which in turn increases the threat of global sustainability by a considerable extent2. The leadership phenomenon of Iran has been consistently taking place in international debates concerning its nuclear ambition. It is in this context that several well-argued statements in relation to Iran’s acquisition of nuclear programs have been commented by various national as well as international leaders. With this concern, the problem can be identified apparently referring to the steps of nuclear ambition taken by Iran with its international relationships. For instance, the unidentifiable effects of nuclear hostilities are also regarded as an important aspect for giving rise to security concerns amid other countries. The strapping international pressure forced Iran to provisionally freeze the uranium fortification activities and to develop the inspection of its nuclear power organising alliances with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in the year 20033. Thesis Statement The discussion henceforth intends to elaborate on the issue or rather the global problems witnessed by Iran in relation to its nuclear ambitions. In this regard, the discussion attempts to precisely define the issues related with Iran’s nuclear power ambition along with rendering a brief overview of the challenges and obstacles to be witnessed when mitigating such concerns. Possible solutions will also be identified in the discussion which would further assist in constructing rational recommendations concerning the problem identified. The Issues Related to the Problem In relation to the nuclear ambition program of Iran, certain issues from the various parts of the world can be identified Owing to the fact that the nuclear threat significantly affects the national as well as global economic position which further intends to give rise to conflicts by a certain extent. The efforts towards acquiring Nuclear, Chemical and Biological Weapon (NCBW) by the Iranian government was also accused to support terrorist associations based on the lacuna of signing the required legal treaty to maintain adequate transparency. With this concern, the nuclear ambition programs of Iran have been argued to significantly contribute towards terrorism related issues for the Middle Eastern Regions and rest of the world as well. It was in this context that the nuclear issue of the country can be considered as one of the most polarising concerns in the international forefront. However, according to the Iranian leadership concerns, the sole aim of developing the nuclear program has been to increase the amount of electricity supply to the entire nation and other neighbouring countries. The process creates a reflective predicament for the US and other Western and European States condemning the domination of human rights and democratic empowerment within the Iranian regime4. In this context, nuclear agreements can deliberately prevent war and other situations which can raise the risk of human suffering in Iran, by protecting and providing equal human rights and democratic alliances. It has often been observed in this regard that the Iranian democrats and human rights activists have been repeatedly alleging the nuclear programs to be the major causes of conflicts within the nation owing to the violation of human rights5. Furthermore, the continuous enrichment process of uranium significantly indicates of keeping stronger nuclear set-up for the country which is quite likely to give rise to certain global issues. Therefore, in this context, the crisis over proliferation could also create major impact on the developing steadiness of power within the regime36. It was in this context that the Islamic Republic of Iran in turn focused on reviving the interest of nuclear power considered during the war amid Iran and Iraq. The nuclear ambition was also influenced by the survival gained by the attack of Iraq, especially in terms of self-reliance and vigilance. An apparent and intervening example can be identified with regards to the fact that dependence on conventional forces was considerably less effective than the reliance upon the nuclear powers and weapons. The another motivation of acquiring nuclear power by Iran can be identified as the influence of the mixed reviews from various countries regarding threats and opportunities of the Teheran nuclear reactors. IT has often been argued that a nuclear competence will also provide the benefit of acquiring greater confidence in relation to world politics concerning various obstructions and challenges from the developed global countries. Irrespective of such conflicts, the national leaders majorly argue that the enlargement of the nuclear power would be a justifiable warhead towards defending Iran from its foremost threats within the global region2. In the context of the issues related to the nuclear ambition of Iran, various issues can be considered including national and global contexts. For instance, in the year 2007, the agreement between IAEA, was focused on the modalities for determining and resolving the major identifiable issues, probable to arise during the preparedness of the nuclear ambition. According to the statement of IAEA, it can be identified that the efficiency level of Fuel Enrichment Plant of Natanz was considered as below expectation which in turn raise serious concerns. The sustainability of nuclear ambition has also been argued regarding the issue of plutonium experiments and contamination of Highly Enriched Uranium (HEU) which is generally used for manufacturing bombs7. According to the recent report of IAEA, it has been stated that Iran has performed relevantly enrichment activities of its nuclear power devices. These activities were significantly practiced in order to develop nuclear powers. Moreover, in relation to the nuclear enrichment process of Iran, it has also been argued by the UN Security Council that the level of technology involved in the process of uranium enrichment can also be implemented to produce an advanced level nuclear weapon. It is worth mentioning in this regard that the nuclear enrichment programs of Iran have been accused to be organised secretly since 18 years. Based on this assumption, the Security Council ordered to discontinue the process of enrichment and other nuclear activities until proper establishment under the specified treaty takes place within the country8. Furthermore, the council has ordered authorization under the Article 41 of the UN Charter that facilitates the council to determine “what measures not involving the use of armed force are to be employed to give effect to its decisions”. The Security Council has also appealed to approve and implement an understanding which can be beneficial as a more effective inspection to establish peace and confidence within the community of Iran59. With due consideration to the nuclear ambition of Iran, it can further be observed that the legitimacy problem is one of the root rationales of practicing nuclear activities and uranium enrichment processes10. Challenges or Obstacles to Resolve the Problem With due consideration to the factors related with Iran’s nuclear ambition, the strong leadership and decision makers of the nation along with the inclination towards asserting the power held by Ayatollah Khomeini and his successor Ali Khameini can be identified as the major obstacles for the resolution of the issue. In the monarchy of nuclear decision in Iran, the role of Ali Khameini was apparently reflected in the decision making process of enriching uranium and other processes of developing nuclear weapons. The decision making process of Iran’s nuclear program was further disclosed by Dr. Hassan Rowhani who was playing the role of a representative in the process. Moreover, the policy regarding nuclear process was built by the ‘Heads of the Council’ that was constructed with the most powerful leaders of the country. The body also involved major decisions of various enrichment activities and suspension program of nuclear ambition and other related issues concerning the nuclear ambition program. Therefore, the inclusion of these delegates and the top leaders of the nation made the entire process quite complex and formally structured which certainly became a major obstacle with regard to solving the issues of nuclear ambition program11. Furthermore, the influence of “factionalism and institutional competition”, which was previously known as one of the major issues in the political system of Iran, have also been termed as an obstacle to deal with the problems concerning Iran’s nuclear ambition. The contradiction environment in the political system further played a major role in causing various conflicts during the dominion realm of Ayatollah Khomeini. Furthermore, the inter-conflicts within the groups of hardliners, pragmatists, conservatives, along with reformists and intra-elites can also be confirmed as the major obstructions to the resolution of the issue. It is in this context that the inter-conflicts amid these groups resulted in national unrest which further made the issue vague and challenging to be resolved12. Possible Solutions to the Problem In the context of the present scenario, it can be observed that Iran experiences an overpowering environment which has been apparently reflected in terms of the lack of independence and a wretched economic condition of the nation. The considerable mismanagement and defective foreign policy within the clerical administration can also be identified as the major rational factor of suppression and challenging financial position which imposes significant impression on the development of Iran. Fundamentally, the casualty of government’s mismanagement and internal strife activities continuously affects the legal and international policies which are significantly influencing the process of nuclear ambition and uranium enrichment programs within the national context of Iran. As can be observed with reference to the above discussion reflecting the influence of the top Iranian leaders, the political environment of the nation can be considered as one of the most prominent aspects that should majorly focus towards the mitigation of the issues concerning the transparency of the process in the international context13. In this regard, as majority of the issues are identified on the basis of transparency and national ethics, it can be affirmed that the process should be communicated with other concerned parties at the international level. Another possible solution that can be suggested for the mitigation of the identified issue, relates with the consideration to treaties to exhibit legal confirmation of the entire process. This is also quite likely to contribute towards the ethical responsibilities of the nation, thereby mitigating the issues existing in terms of conflicts within Iran and other countries. Recommendations The acquisition of nuclear power has often been regarded to comprise of both the aspects of risks and opportunities in the global arena. In this context, one of the major positive aspect of develop nuclear power can be considered as its contribution to a large amount of power generation for the effectiveness of various sectors such as, agricultural, industrial as well as medical services, which are further used for the overall development of the quality of life within the national context. However, the nuclear process can also be regarded as the most feared destructive instrument with huge potentialities to cause long term damages to humanity and the global environment as well. It is in this context that Iran should recall the frightful incidence of Hiroshima and Nagasaki after the nuclear bombing, the results of which are still prominent in the regions. With this concern, Iran should focus on transparency in affirming that the nuclear and uranium resources which have been implemented are with the sole intention of producing energy. In keeping with the increasing pace of the global economy, the supplying of energy to other neighbour countries can further result as a major economic resource of Iran. Moreover, the country can also implement its nuclear power for developing the industrial sectors with the intention to augment the financial structure of the country by a large extent14. However, it is quite necessary for the nation to prove that there are no mal-intentions behind developing a nuclear plant where the core ambitions lay with concern to economic prosperity and growth in the long run. It is in this context that to a quite certain extent, nuclear ambitions considered by a country imposes threat for humanity and thereby causing various concerns in the national as well as international contexts. This should be understood by the governing bodies of Iran while taking any further step for the completion of the process. Conclusion With reference to the above discussion, it can be stated that the nuclear ambition of Iran was caused due to various circumstances, together with the desire to ascertain the nuclear independence and scientific expertise. However, it is worth mentioning that the uranium enrichment curriculum and the Arak heavy water reactor might not be quite effective to escort the country towards self-reliance in nuclear energy15. Therefore, it can be observed that the domestic and global events are on the point of having several collisions on the course of future nuclear activities in Iran. The nuclear issue in Iran can also create gaps within the secretarial and political segments of the nation. Furthermore, the continuous process of enriching uranium and nuclear programs can also isolate the country from its global relationships. In the similar context, the nuclear infrastructure of the country can be regarded as the element that can play a major role to construct alarming situations for world safety. For instance, the missile industry and nuclear technologies were simultaneously developed within the country to focus on their regional power as a status to imprint the national security level. Moreover, the intension of emerging in terms of a powerful and dominant nation within the Middle Eastern region can also be regarded as motivating factor for Iran to intensely focus on its nuclear ambition activities, thereby giving rise to international conflicts16. Moreover, the increasing defensive initiatives of the global countries also influenced Iran to implement and construct its nuclear ambition programs with the sole intention towards maintaining the peace and reconciliation status with other powerful economies. 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