Irans Two-Step on Atom Plans

Irans two-step on atom plans

A tough analysis of Irans efforts to develop a nuclear capability has been developed by the International Atomic Energy Agency.

We hope that the international community takes this report seriously and acts upon it, by referring Irans case to the Security Council.

It might already be late for United Nations action, but better late than never.

Over the past three years, Iran has worked steadily to obtain or manufacture the equipment to perform uranium enrichment.

Thats just a short step from developing the highly enriched uranium that can be used in atomic bombs.

A militant Islamic state with atomic weapons would be a dangerous threat to regional stability and world peace.

The IAEA member nations and the United Nations must do more to dissuade Iran from this course. As has been typical in the past few years, Irans government has tried to make very modest concessions to IAEA officials as a way of muddying the water and heading off tough U.N. sanctions.

Recently, for example, it allowed some of its scientists to answer some technical questions put to them by IAEA, but the agency is forbidden to inspect the sites where uranium enrichment activities have started on a small scale. The IAEAs questions about possible military links to Irans enrichment program remain unanswered.

How long before one of the worlds most dangerous nations has nuclear weapons? Thats hard to say precisely, but experts believe its no more than a matter of a few years.

This is too big a problem to allow for molasses-speed diplomacy and undue deference to Irans two-step.