Iran’s Potential Nuclear Program and the Effects
Alexis Ham
International Relations
Coe
Iran’s Potential Nuclear Program and the Effects
This essay seeks to investigate, evaluate, and discuss the impact of Iran’s Nuclear Program in relation to the role international institutions play along with the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). This essay discusses the treaty and argues the effectiveness of it as well as the international system and the actions taken towards the rules created and those that break the treaty. It will cover what the international system is doing now regarding this and what they should be doing in response to the suspicious actions Iran has taken with Nuclear Weapons despite the lack of “solid” evidence (Davis, Martini, Steinberg, Quinlivan, Nader, Kaye, 27). With Iran being a part of the Non-Proliferation treaty and continuing to hide their nuclear program, it begins to put other countries at potential risk (Bowen, 923). The IAEA has certain precautions in place to help the International “community” remain protected and to give each other the knowledge of their weapons. There is an understanding of both mutual destruction and that if there were to be a collapse of the IAEA, the treaty would no longer be in place allowing countries to do what they wish with their nuclear power. The advancement of nuclear power is revolutionizing, but it is also very destructive (Cambridge University Press, 270-271). Due to technology advancement and the importance of Nuclear Weapons, it is highly important for the International system to find a way to regulate this power. The Non-Proliferation Treaty was the regulating factor in this case, but there is evidence suggesting that Iran has other plans.
The Non-Proliferation Treaty is a multilateral treaty created May 11, 1995, to create peaceful practices of Nuclear weapons between States (United Nations- Treaty Outline). This is the only known treaty that binds the states to any Nuclear agreement, especially to promote peaceful engagement within States. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) established this treaty as a precaution with the rise of Nuclear Power. States do have to pass certain inspections that the IAEA have in place to ensure compliance. The IAEA is willing to help advance the Nuclear Energy concepts and further scientific findings, as long as it remains within the treaties boundaries to ensure safety to other states participating in the treaty. The Treaty’s intentions were to end any nuclear arms races and to create a trust-worthy system that is promoting human rights and has an economic goal in mind.
Non-proliferation should be what countries begin shifting to due to the mass destruction is seen in the past with Hiroshima and Nagasaki (History.com, Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki). With this information, Iran is still outwardly stating that the Non-proliferation treaty is the way to go and that they do not support nuclear weapons. They have made it quite clear that these weapons will not be a part of their defense system. Iran had signed the treaty on July 1, 1968, meaning that they had agreed to this Treaty early on in hopes to create peaceful communication with other states regarding the advancement of Nuclear power and the importance of it to science (United Nations- Status on Treaty). If that was really the case, then why would they need to hide the potential weapons program and agree to the treaty despite having other intentions.
The treaty should be effective with the system they have in place to keep the States in check. There has been speculation regarding Iran’s compliance to the treaty, creating the argument that Iran may not be entirely faithful to the treaty or in the international system. The Non-Proliferation Treaty has written within the rules that States involved in the treaty are to in no way engage in acquiring nuclear weapons or control of these weapons (Takeyh, 23). They are able to work with nuclear energy and power within certain parameters that the IAEA has set to ensure safety within the Non-Proliferation Treaty States. The IAEA has set a 5-year annual meeting, where they will all meet and re-discuss the treaty as well as what they are agreeing to United Nations- Treaty Outline). This treaty is seen as one of the most forward movements within the international system, making it in the best interest of the States to participate. Although Iran has signed this treaty and is “participating”, are they really investing or are they agreeing as more of a “cover”.
Prior to the Non-Proliferation Treaty, Iran was involved in a Nuclear Fuel covert operation, therefore giving them some of the most dangerous information on Nuclear power (Bowen and Brewer, 923). They have yet to come clean regarding the operation, and continue to state the operation only had pure intention