(Telegraph-UK)John Keegan - Historically, Iran has been a dominant regional power and today it is one of the most advanced in the region. An optimistic Western assessment is that its young people reject its religious government and would welcome liberation from the ayatollahs. A more realistic judgment is that they will do so within an Islamic context. It would be a delusion for Westerners to suppose that the International Atomic Energy Agency's condemnation of Iran's program to proceed with nuclear enrichment is likely to acquire domestic endorsement. National pride will encourage the Iranians to become a nuclear power.
2004-06-24 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive