Iran and its Nuclear Program

[Drace]

What is the left's stance on this?

Why is Iran perusing a nuclear program for? Is the US motivated by an imperialist cause?

[Nolan]

Well, I don't know if Iran is developing nuclear weapons, but if they are, it's for the same reason as North Korea. No nation that possesses nukes has ever been invaded.

[Misanthrope]

No sane thinking person wants religious fundamentalists to have control of nukes but I believe they are in the right to have nuclear arms especially when Israel has them.

[Scary Monster]

What is the left's stance on this?

Why is Iran perusing a nuclear program for? Is the US motivated by an imperialist cause?

Iran wants to develop nuclear energy to substitute its use of Caspian Basin oil in its infrastructure. So the large amount of oil that is used to run its economy right now will instead be exported, which will greatly increase Iran's income. All these statements made by US politicians saying that "Iran will not cooperate in peace talks,they will have nuclear weapons, we must toughen sanctions!" is outright bullshit. The US has NEVER attempted negotiations with Iran, only the UK and a couple other european countries have. Even then, those that did have talks with Iran were only there to make threats against them. Nuke weapons were never found, nor have they ever found evidence of nuclear weapon development capabilities.

One of the reasons the US wants its dirty hands on Iran is because it has direct access to the otherwise geographically-isolated oil reserves in the Caspian Sea, which is the third largest oil reserve on the planet.
EDIT: Also, they can import that oil through Iran, from the persian gulf to the indian ocean, instead of having to cross into Russia to export it through the Caucasus oceans.

[Scary Monster]

No sane thinking person wants religious fundamentalists to have control of nukes but I believe they are in the right to have nuclear arms especially when Israel has them.

Thats a very ignorant thing to say. Iran's leaders declare that use of nukes is against Islam and they have never stated an intent to use them. Iran has also ceased islamic fundamentalism in other persian gulf states, to develop good relations with them. Iran and Israel have also traded arms with each other, even though they publicly taunt each other. Iran has even helped finance the US' invasion of Afghanistan! Even if Iran secretly intends to develop nukes, their actions show that they obviously do not wish to use these nukes.

http://www.americanforeignpolicy.org/iran-key-myths/nuclear-standoff/

[Che a chara]

All nations have the right to defend themselves, and they as say "the best form of defence is attack", and by this i mean the potential to attack if provoked and the notion that such a weapon is there, and as said previously even if they don't intend to use it.

But i think Iran's intentions will become clearer as their programme progresses.

[Scary Monster]

All nations have the right to defend themselves, and they as say "the best form of defence is attack", and by this i mean the potential to attack if provoked and the notion that such a weapon is there, and as said previously even if they don't intend to use it.

But i think Iran's intentions will become clearer as their programme progresses.

This is such bullshit. Iran, and any nation for that matter, wouldnt dare use nukes on another nation, because they will surely get blown to shit as well. Nukes in the modern era are used as a political tool. And if you bother to gain any kind of knowledge about Iran, you would see that they arent a bunch of backwards fanatics that the media paints them as. Besides, the only nation that used a nuke (TWO of them) is the USA. By your logic, any baseless accusation a country can make on another nation is means to launch an attack, so an attack on the US is justified as well (not to mention a hundred of years of atrocities the US has been inflicting on sovereign nations anyway).

[Che a chara]

This is such bullshit. Iran, and any nation for that matter, wouldnt dare use nukes on another nation, because they will surely get blown to shit as well. Nukes in the modern era are used as a political tool. And if you bother to gain any kind of knowledge about Iran, you would see that they arent a bunch of backwards fanatics that the media paints them as. Besides, the only nation that used a nuke (TWO of them) is the USA. By your logic, any baseless accusation a country can make on another nation is means to launch an attack, so an attack on the US is justified as well (not to mention a hundred of years of atrocities the US has been inflicting on sovereign nations anyway).

where have i stated that Iran would dare to use nukes on anyone !!??? I am of the opinion like yourself that weapons as such are a 'political tool'. read my post properly.

[Scary Monster]

When you say "even if they dont intend to use it", it sounds like you are referring to Iran as "they". Sorry if i misread your post, I guess you were referring to nations in general?

[Ele'ill]

Nuclear power gives leverage even if it isn't used for weaponry.

The top super powers having nuclear weapons makes me nervous and the developing countries trying to obtain nuclear weapons/power makes me nervous because of stability issues with their governments.

[Che a chara]

When you say "even if they dont intend to use it", it sounds like you are referring to Iran as "they". Sorry if i misread your post, I guess you were referring to nations in general?

yeah that's what i meant. apologies if it came across wrong.

as you point out, i dont think Iran would use nukes. But such a weapon is a good basis for bargaining and a deterrent from attacks and invasion. But they also reserve the right to have a nuke if it's clear that their main aggressors (the US) also have the same capability, again even if they dont intend to use them. Maybe a bit of a power trip on all sides too....

[ComradeMan]

There one as bad the other.....:confused:

[RGacky3]

There is no "left" stance, I'd think different leftist might have different stances.

My stance is I'm against ALL nuclear weapons, no country should have any of them, they are indefensable. Nuclear weapons are not weapons of war, they are weapons of mass civilian murder.

That being said, Iran is'nt making nuclear weapons, they've enriched uranium 20%, good enough for energy, they need 80% for weapons. Do they have a right to use nuclear energy? There is NO reason why not. Do they have a right to Nuclear weapons, I don't think any one does, but using world standards now? There is no reason why they don't. The most violent nation in the middle east (Isreal) has nuclear weapons, I don't think there is an argument, that people who support the US or Isreals right to nuclear weapons can have, against against Iran arming itself.

There is a good chance the United States might invade Iran, if I was the government of Iran I'd worry, that being said, there is no indication that they are going in that direction.

[ComradeMan]

There is no "left" stance, I'd think different leftist might have different stances.

My stance is I'm against ALL nuclear weapons, no country should have any of them, they are indefensable. Nuclear weapons are not weapons of war, they are weapons of mass civilian murder.

That being said, Iran is'nt making nuclear weapons, they've enriched uranium 20%, good enough for energy, they need 80% for weapons. Do they have a right to use nuclear energy? There is NO reason why not. Do they have a right to Nuclear weapons, I don't think any one does, but using world standards now? There is no reason why they don't. The most violent nation in the middle east (Isreal) has nuclear weapons, I don't think there is an argument, that people who support the US or Isreals right to nuclear weapons can have, against against Iran arming itself.

There is a good chance the United States might invade Iran, if I was the government of Iran I'd worry, that being said, there is no indication that they are going in that direction.

NO NUCLEARS WEAPONS for anyone is my policy.

Having said that, if the US think they can invade Iran...well, good luck to them... LOL!!! I don't think they have any idea of what that would mean and the consequences are so frightening and apocalyptic I don't want to think about it. No foreign force has successfully conquered Iran since the time of Alexander and I don't see any Alexanders in Washington. The Arabs conquered Iran and brought Islam but were soon driven out or assimilated by the uprisings of the Iranians and the eventual destruction of the Ummayads- perhaps an explanation for the lack of love between Iranians and Arabs...!

What a mess!

[RGacky3]

I doubt the US will attack Iran, but if it does, its not about conquering, just about changing the government to a lapdog one, or scaring the government enough so it obeys.

[Bud Struggle]

I doubt the US will attack Iran, but if it does, its not about conquering, just about changing the government to a lapdog one, or scaring the government enough so it obeys.

I think the worry is more that Israel will atack Iran unilaterally and throw the mid-East into a hissy fit that will stop or slow down oil production for a while.

[Bankotsu]

Iran is against the hegemonic agenda of the U.S and their leadership is aligned with Russia and China. If Iran gains nuclear weapons, their power will increase and the entire Russian, Chinese, Iranian bloc will be strengthened.

U.S, obviously opposes this.


Afghan MP Describes Iran as "Dam against Hegemony"


TEHRAN (FNA)- A member of Afghanistan's parliament said that Iran's resistance to hegemonic policies has led to the West's double-standard attitude towards the country's nuclear program.



http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.php?nn=8810201464

U.S. Uses Iran to Globalize Its Defenses, Russia Says

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-02-05/u-s-uses-iran-to-globalize-missile-shield-russian-envoy-says.html

[RGacky3]

I think the worry is more that Israel will atack Iran unilaterally and throw the mid-East into a hissy fit that will stop or slow down oil production for a while.

That might be true, I don't think it will happen, but given the isreali governments violent past, its not implausible, if it does happen though, let the US put its money where its mouth is and invade isreal, hahahahha, imagen that, they won't even put sanctions on isreal, but if they do, would'nt that be something.