Iran's Nuclear Program: An Illusory Threat

What is never said or written about the new imperialistic wars is that the other point of view is never heard. And this is probably the most prominent feature of imperialism. These imperialistic wars are not only presented with the cover of Humanitarianism and security (first fallacy), but they are presented to us as the most covered of wars, with embedded journalists, images, and an orgy of commentaries (the second fallacy), ignoring, however, a simple ethical principle, the voice of the other. And the western press is accomplice in this voluntary censorship. I underatnd that people may not want to listen to AhmadiNejad, but why on earth should they listen to Bush ? Moreover, if we admit that the official voice should be dismissed, on both sides, I suppose there are journalists and educated people in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Iran. Are we hearing their voices ? No. We are only hearing the voices of those of them who tell only what the West wants to hear.
The new imperialistic wars have a new weapon, their self censored information machine...Total deafness...We are only hearing our own voices. For this reason I asked my friend blogger Homeyra to translate this opinion piece on the Iranian nuclear program by the Iranian ambassador to France.


UPDATE: March 11th, 2008. Here is the translation from Homeyra, slightly edited by myself.

Iran's Nuclear Program: An Illusory Threat. By Ali Ahani
In the last years some western countries' opposition has turned the Iranian nuclear program into a challenge, and the international community, for precise reasons, is facing an important responsibility.
This responsibility of countries and international organizations to bring a solution and to strengthen the international peace becomes greater as the discussion on the Iranian nuclear program has become increasingly disproportionate.
The Iranian nuclear program isn't about confrontation with the International community. Quite the contrary, the question is to know what are the International community members' expectations regarding the current international situation in terms of rights and responsibilities as it is necessary to grant countries with their legitimate and inalienable rights.
The dual attitude of a few countries hostile to the peaceful Iranian nuclear program, brings the international community to face a difficult task. As the will of the large majority of the members of the international community is to give diplomacy a chance.
No State can decide of the limits of diplomacy. Western countries opposing the peaceful Iranian nuclear program must remain faithful to the United Nation charter and to a peaceful solution of international questions, according to the principles of justice and international law. Their opposition has two negative consequences: it is scorning the absolute rights of the Iranian people and weakening international institutions.
According to AIEA documents and proofs, as well as the recognition of the American and other countries' intelligence services conducting nuclear enrichment activities, the Iranian program is a peaceful program.
Therefore nothing justifies a vote for a binding resolution increasing sanctions against the Iranian people. A peaceful nuclear program within the NPT charter is the legitimate and undeniable right of all members of the AIEA.
A vote in favor of a resolution increasing the sanctions against Iran will, not only lead to a reduced function of the AIEA as the only valid technical and judicial body of the UN, but also limit the chances of negotiations – going against the logical demands of Iran and the expectations of the international community.
All countries are bound to protect the power of the AIEA in the fulfillment of its goals with the due respect for its prestige. The weakening of the AIEA would lead to anarchy and international disorder. Not only there would be no distinction among right and duty, but the validity of international decisions and documents would be questioned.
Flawed information and wrong interpretations of Iranian nuclear program are the basis of some countries’ discriminatory and even hostile position toward the Iranian government and people.
Some Western States' hostile rhetoric and the escalation of sanctions were born from the illusions entertained by some on the Iranian peaceful nuclear activities. Part of the NIE report proves this aspect.
According to the recent report of Mohamed Elbaradei, only realism, along with taking into account the good faith and the sincerity of the IRI in its cooperation with the AIEA, should be the core of international efforts to end the discriminatory approach to the Iranian nuclear program, to respect the Iranian peoples’ rights, and to consolidate world peace and security.
All members of the international community are responsible to maintain world peace, to respect the United Nations charter, and to use all their forces in this direction.
Occuring events after the occupation of Iraq, the admission of occupying forces of the lack of basis of their claims regarding the existence of WMD's, have proved that the Iraqi people have been victims of this kind of illusions.
This experience has convinced most of the international observers that a country cannot be threatened because of some illusions and fabrications of false pretences and be considered as a rogue state.
Considering the Iranian pacific nuclear program, nuclear powers must respect the legal and technical expertise of the AIEA and restrain from exerting pressure and creating negative impacts on the logical and lawful process of the AIEA activities.
The people of the Middle-East have a positive view of France and of its stance toward them in the past, specially in the Iraq war. The French government and people wish to maintain their position in the Middle East. Today France has precious opportunities. The Middle East conflict, the political crises in Lebanon, regional evolutions in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the Iranian nuclear question are matters of great opportunities for the French government to show its leadership in the region. With will and realism, France could play a historic and decisive role as a responsible country.
Original Source in French:

Le nucléaire iranien, une menace illusoire, par Ali Ahani
LE MONDE | 06.03.08

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May I remind you that the visit of Israeli president Shimon Peres is meant exactly to pull France in the other direction regarding the Iranian nuclear program and Sarkozy seems to be more than willing to go Israel's way ?

CENTCOM Commander William Fallon Resigns over tensions on his opposition to the white house war plans on Iran.

The top US military commander in the Middle East is stepping down days after a magazine profile reported he was trying to block US military action against Iran.
Admiral William Fallon, the head of US Central Command, was described in an Esquire article published last week as a lone voice within the administration arguing for restraint.
The article's author, Thomas Barnett, had predicted that if Admiral Fallon was pushed out of his job "it may well mean that the president and vice-president intend to take military action against Iran before the end of this year and don't want a commander standing in their way".