Iran is a proud and ancient civilisation. It is not and never has been a Taliban type fundamentalist entity. It wishes to play an active role in the region as a modern and industrialized State, rather than the caricature favoured by bigots on here,(of a backward and impoverished Islamic basket case) and would be a potential ally of the West if it were not plotted against and threatened regularly by the Bushites.
Were Iran offered guaranteed enriched Uranium by third party Govs, with the right to be fully involved in such enrichment on foreign soil, and allowed unfettered access to international investment, and to be encouraged to develop the rich gas fields in Iranian territory, which would be so beneficial to the world economy, it would no doubt behave responsibly. Indeed, it has shown such responsibility even without much encouragement in Iraq, where it has backed the current Iraqi leadership and recently brokered a ceasefire with Sadrists. Iran also showed great maturity and wisdom in 2003 when the Iranians set out their own position on all these matters and offered to work to advance peace with Israel,(if Israel is ever able to reach an acceptable agreement with the Palestinians-they will support it).
The alternative is ever closer relations with Russia and China and other Muslim nations of the caucus, and the endless war of words(and far worse)with Israel, as well as the likely destabilisation of Iraqi and Saudi regimes. A no brainer-a real win win, where all sides prosper as a result of neither side getting everything their own way. |
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