Iran's Nuclear Weapons

I made the mistake of watching CNN the other day and had the pleasure of getting to see Larry King lie repeatedly into the camera. It is possible, of course, that he believed the lies he was telling, but that does not make them true.

He kept referring, as most American journalists do, to "Iran's Nuclear Weapons" or "Iran's Nuclear Weapons Program."

What needs to be noted is that, based on the evidence provided, Iran does not have a Nuclear weapons program. The IAEA's reports on the subject outline the fact that "there is no evidence of diversion of nuclear material to a weapons program" however "outstanding questions" remain. Suspension of Uranium Enrichment is intended to "build confidence in the international community," and clearing up the outstanding questions (rather than suspension of enrichment) is the real issue, contrary to the assertions of the western media.

We should also note that a few months ago Iran offered the IAEA full access to all of Iran's nuclear sites and suspected nuclear sites. This offer was flatly rejected by America's Condeleeza Rice, speaking on behalf of a Security Council Veto holding state. However, this offer was basically what is being demanded of Iran right now by the Security Council (aside from the manufactured issue of Suspension) in their recent resolution on Iran.

The resolution by the Security council refers to a document released by the IAEA board of Governers from February 8, 2006, numbered Gov/2006/14. That IAEA resolution states "that Article IV of the Treaty on the Non Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons
stipulates that nothing in the Treaty shall be interpreted as affecting the inalienable rights of all the Parties to the Treaty to develop research, production and use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes without discrimination and in conformity with Articles I and II of the Treaty," and each IAEA report (covered extensively in this blog) since then has reiterated the fact that "the Agency has not seen indications of diversion of nuclear material to nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices."

It will be difficult for the Security Council to agree on any kind of sanctions what with the fact that Iran's right to develop enriched Uranium and Nuclear Power is protected by the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty, and there is no evidence of any nuclear weapons program in Iran.

Somehow, however, the US media and US public (including such liberal comedians as George Carlin, who on the Jay Leno show some weeks back stated bluntly that "now Iran has The Bomb") are convinced that Iran either has a Nuclear Weapons program, or has a Nuclear Bomb already.

Again, people are being too easily misled. Perhaps they don't realise that, instead of just believing what their Lying News Agencies tell them, they could check the firsthand sources instead, such as the IAEA News Center, Focus: Iran web page.