The Nuclear Debate

BY SAMI KOHEN
MILLIYET- The Prospect of Iran using its nuclear program to develop nuclear weapons is a nightmare for the West. There are different views on what could be done to prevent it from going nuclear. While Europe favors a solution via negotiations or compromise, the US believes in considering other alternatives such as a military offensive.
What is Iran’s nuclear program aimed at? If its goal is to become a nuclear power, could it be blocked? And how? Bogazici University and the Turkish Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s Association’s (TUSIAD) tried to find answers to these questions at a recent foreign policy forum conference on the ‘Nuclear Debate.’
Two Iranian scholars held different views. Tehran University’s Abumohammed Isgarkhani said that the US is putting Iran under ‘heavy pressure’ directly or through Europe, and as a result Tehran doesn’t feel itself bound by its international obligations. Pointing to India’s and Pakistan’s nuclear programs, Isgarkhani stressed that Iran has the right to have a ‘survival strategy’ and to defend its national pride. Another scholar from the same university, Dr. Nassar Hadian, said that Iran could develop its nuclear program without producing nuclear weapons and could reach a compromise with the West. ‘Iran has started to discuss including the US in the negotiations,’ he explained. ‘The government is remaining silent on this for ideological reasons. Since it is not the EU Iran wants to make a compromise with, but Washington, Tehran has to negotiate with it. This issue is being discussed among scholars and even some government circles.’ This is a quite important statement. Furthermore, that two Iranian scholars have diverging views shows that various opinions are developing in Iran.
Moving to the Westerners, the Europeans are more for negotiations. According to Angelika Beer from the European Parliament’s Greens group, Europe should convince Iran not to produce nuclear bombs in return for technological and economic support from Europe. Frankfurt Peace Institute Director Bernard Kubbig said that this problem couldn’t be solved only by European efforts, but that the US and even Israel should be included. Los Angeles Times Turkey correspondent Douglas Franz shared this view.
Turkey could have a role in achieving such a dialogue. Retired Egyptian Gen. Muhammed Kadri Said talked about a regional initiative. Why shouldn’t Turkey lead such an initiative?