After its failure to prove that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction - the only justification U.S. could forwarded for its attack on Iraq - which has turned into a fiasco, now Washington has turned its pressure on Iran on the pretext that Tehran is trying to acquire nuclear weapons.
The U.S. is now pressing Iran to sign an additional protocol of Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) accepting more IAEA inspections. Iran is a signatory to the NPT and under the treaty is obliged to show its nuclear sites to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The inspectors of the IAEA regularly inspect Iran's sites and have thus far reported that the sites are for peaceful purposes.
In an interview with the CNN the Chief of the agency Mohamed ElBradei said on Saturday: "Iran is building an extensive nuclear program, "but building these facilities does not automatically mean this is a weapons program, because they can have peaceful applications in a nuclear program dedicated to producing electricity."
Under the NPT, advanced countries are duty-bound to deliver the required know-how and technology to the signatories of the treaty for their peaceful nuclear facilities.
Unfortunately, in a totally irrational manner the U.S. has imposed sanctions on Iran not only with regard to the nuclear facilities, but also in other areas. For instance, the U.S. has slapped sanctions on Iran even with regard to the spare parts of passenger planes that transport the citizens whose lives are at stake, an absolutely humanitarian issue.
Russia made a very good proposal this week: U.S. should also involve itself in Iran's nuclear facilities. It is a rational proposal and if adequate guarantees are given for the supply of necessary technology and know-how to Iran for its nuclear facilities, Tehran must not hesitate in inviting the U.S. to participate in its nuclear facilities and also sign an additional NPT protocol
accepting more IAEA inspections.
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