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Dropping the Pretense: The IAEA Must Respond to Iran's Nuclear Challenge

(Times-UK) Editorial - At least Iran has now been honest. Its announcement to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that it is to resume nuclear research and development puts an end to Tehran's absurd pretense of negotiating a continued suspension. It has been clear, from the start, that the minuet danced with the Europeans was merely a device to win time and confuse the West. Tehran never had any intention of halting efforts to enrich uranium and build a nuclear bomb. Indeed, President Ahmadinejad has told the Iranian Parliament that the policy of detente with the West was a waste of time. How the world reacts to this new challenge is critical to the credibility of any attempt to enforce nuclear non-proliferation. The responsibility lies unambiguously with the IAEA. Iran's intentions could not be more obvious, nor its attempt to thwart a full inspection and veto safeguards against the development of a nuclear potential more forcefully expressed. It has rebuffed Russia's recent offer to let Iranian scientists work on the peaceful development of nuclear energy inside Russia. The IAEA must refer Iran to the UN Security Council forthwith. The issue for the rest of the world is what threats can credibly be made. This arrogant challenge cannot be ignored. It is up to the IAEA to take an overdue lead.
2006-01-05 00:00:00
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