Written by: Craig Edwin Holdway
Iran has inaugurated a new airbase near its eastern border with Afghanistan as General Ahmad Mighani- the head of the Iranian Air Force, deemed it necessary to strike swiftly and strongly against an attack from the occupying forces within the bordering countries. This announcement comes on the heels of the revelation that Iran has developed a new 2000-pound optical smart bomb called the 'Ghadr'.
Within Iran this week a second student protest took place at Tehran University even though the identity papers of students were checked during a crackdown to ensure that only pro-government supporters were allowed access. Around 100 students chanted “Death to the Dictator” during a speech given at the University by Iranian President Ahmadinejad.
General David Petraeus, commander of the American Armed Forces in Iraq, made the allegation that the Iranian Ambassador to Iraq, Hassam Kazemi-Qomi, is a member of the secretive Quds Force of Iran and therefore is a terrorist. The accusation resulted in the further straining of American-Iraqi relations.
The IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) is meeting for the next 2 to 3 days with Iraqi officials to clarify and answer questions about the Iraqi Nuclear Enrichment Programme. The main question is how Iran obtained components for their P1 And P2 type centrifuges which are in operation at the Natanz Nuclear Enrichment Plant. The P2 centrifuge uses less energy and produces more enriched uranium than the P1-type centrifuge. The answers to the relevant questions will be addressed at a meeting in mid-October to determine whether or not to proceed with further actions which may be warranted beyond the two levels of sanctions Iran is already enduring over its nuclear ambitions.
One of the most sensitive issues in the region is the alleged shipments of nuclear material from the North Korean government to Syria in the last few months. With North Korean agreements to dismantle its nuclear programme, they have agreed not to engage in the proliferation of nuclear materials or knowledge as thus any confirmed shipments to Syria will undermine the negotiations with the United States. This is probably why neither Israel nor the United States will disclose any information about the Israeli Airstrike on a military installation in Syria on September 6th, 2007 thought to house the fledgling Syrian nuclear programme aimed at furthering Syrian bargaining power in the region. The Syrian Military has commenced a buildup of troops and hardware along its border with Israel as the Syrian Government has declared that the attack on September 6th will not go unanswered.
With France pushing for increased sanctions against Iran and the looming deadline for information about the Iranian Nuclear Programme sometime in October, it seems that Iran has cornered itself with the international community, and will need to comply with international pressure to cease its nuclear ambitions or face military action in the future. The American Government has already devised its plans for an invasion of Iran, and it is up to the International Community to diplomatically seek an end to the current tensions or seek a compromise sooner rather than later.
The views are my own and are based on my own experiences and are written from personal insights and observations.