Iran & Nuclear Proliferation

1. Iran & Nuclear Proliferation By: Celia Landesberg & Caroline Potolicchio

2. The First Sign • First suspicions of nuclear technology in Iran were in the early 1970s • The U.S. believed that Iran was using nuclear technology more than civilian levels • 2002- Iran announces nuclear capabilities and U.S. refuses to deal with it

3. Past History • Iran’s nuclear weapon program is meant to steer away opponents and gain influence in the Persian Gulf & Caspian Sea region. • 2004- Iran forms an agreement w/ European powers to keep enrichment at civilian levels • June 2005- EU (European Union) -3 (France, Great Britain, Germany) did not submit proposal to Iran outlining future nuclear negotiations • EU-3 asked for time extension on negotiations • Tehran rejects this delay & announces the resumption of nuclear production • IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) attempts to establish full suspension of all enrichment activities & U.S. threatens to refer Iran to the U.N. Security Council • Iran withdraws from NPT (Non-Proliferation Treaty)

4. Iranian View • U.S. is a bully • Security Council is ineffective – too much bias • U.S. is irresponsible with its power << This photo illustrates Iran’s view of the U.S.

5. Our Policy • Iran’s argument is that the U.S. supports Israel’s nuclear technology and provides for it. • Israel neighbors Iran therefore Iran feels the direct affect of Israel having more power than them. • The U.N. should accept civilian levels of nuclear technology in Iran because Iran does not pose a threat to Europe or the U.S. • Iran needs power & resources to ensure survival and adequate security

6. Recent Poll • London, Eng. – 6 out of 10 adults in Britain, France, and Germany say Iran is not a nuclear threat to Europe • 34% in France, 30% in Germany, and 27% in Britain believe that Iran poses a threat • Those adults who believe Iran is a threat also believe that diplomacy is an optimal solution. • 3% of those adults said that using military action is the best approach. • An additional 22% across all countries (internationally) supported the combined approach of military and diplomacy.

7. Quotes • “If there was really hard evidence that Iran was building a nuclear weapon, I think that we would know about it for sure,” said Gary Sick, who has worked on the National Security Council for three presidents and is now at Columbia University. • Interview with Ahmadinejad: • “It’s not the nuclear bomb that the American gov’t is afraid of, for there are countries in our region who are armed with a nuclear bomb, and are supported by chance by the U.S. gov’t.” • “They’re not concerned about the bomb, but it seems to us they like to prevent the development of our country, as they have in the past.” ^^ Ahmadinejad

8. Our Plan • Get the president of Iran to prepare an argument and he will present it in front of the U.N. • The U.N. will then take a vote and possibly refer it to the security council. • This plan is effective because most European countries do not view Iran as a threat therefore they will side with Iran.

9. Recent News • Europe & U.S. threaten sanctions • Iran is suspected to have a weapon between 2010 and 2015 • Iran turned away U.N. inspectors when they requested to inspect for nuclear technology • EU has bribed Iran • U.S. argued against the construction of Bushehr although it was permitted under the NPT • Americans oppose war- Bush feels we need to take serious action

10. Similarities Between Iran and North Korea