Over the past few years America, Britain, France and others have raised many concerns over Iran’s nuclear programme. They have argued that, although Iran claims that its nuclear programme is for purely civilian purposes, it has the potential to allow the Iranians to develop a nuclear bomb. This they claim is a threat to them and the region. In their view Iran simply cannot be trusted and should be stopped before it is too late.
To many Muslims these objections are seen as hypocrisy by the colonialist nations. They see that the western countries continue to develop their nuclear weapons arsenals whilst on the other hand they see that other countries are stopped from doing so. The US spent a staggering $6.5 billion in 2004 on nuclear weapons, with Bush applying for a further $30 billion over the next 4 years.
In the absence of any real leadership in the Muslim World, some Muslims harbour a hope that Iran is secretly developing nuclear weapons. They hope that this will some how allow Iran to help Muslims around the world and stand up to colonial hegemony.
The Nature of Western Nations
The world today is dominated by nations that adhere to the capitalist ideology, which drives them to exploit weaker nations. The capitalist nations seek to take resources from others in order to enrich their capitalist elites. They rely on political manipulation of other nations, having superiority in technology and a strong well equipped military.
Colin Powell, who portrays himself to be more reasonable than the American Neo-Cons, once said in relation to US military strength and strategic objectives that “I want to be the bully on the block.” This was when he was the Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman in the US military. The West uses its military strength to keep other nations from developing and to keep them open to exploitation.
They actively prevent other nations from developing the infrastructure to develop technology, by sponsoring corrupt ruling elites and poisoning the political climate in such countries. The elites in these countries serve only Western interests and not those of their people. Musharraf for instance, a western backed ruler has brought turmoil to his country. He has been responsible for creating political havoc in Pakistan and has made it impossible for that country to stand on its own two feet.
Western Powers Rely on Military force
The American President Theodore Roosevelt once said “Speak softly and carry a big stick, you will go far". In the context of international relations ‘Big stick diplomacy’ means that the US has to have a strong miltary to threaten other nations in order to secure favourable terms for itself and the interests that it represents. The British also have a term “gunboat diplomacy” for the actual or threatened use of miltary force to achieve what they want. The US policy of ‘Shock and Awe’ during its attack on Iraq, shows that Western Powers see military force as a vital tool for them the extend their domination over other countries. A nuclear weapon is the ultimate ‘big stick’- it can be used to threaten other nations with total destruction.
The US made its case clear to the world by anhilating the Japanese cities of Nagasaki and Hiroshima. It is for this reason that the colonial nations seek to prevent wherever possible other nations acquiring nuclear weapons. Once a nation has its own nuclear weapons it can no longer be held to ransom by the colonialist nations as it has a nuclear detterent.
The Nuclear Club
Muslims are increasingly aware that international law and institutions are tools in the hands of a few nations that seek to achieve their own agendas. In 1968 the Nuclear Non Proliferation treaty (NPT) was enacted. Only four countries in the world are not signatories to the NPT- Pakistan, India, Israel and North Korea. This treaty defined the US, Britain, France, Russia and China – countries that had tested a nuclear weapon before the 1st of January 1967 as Nuclear Weapons States (NWS). The non-proliferation treaty means that most of the nations in the world are not allowed to acquire nuclear weapons, leaving only the colonialists and a handful of countries to form a club with nuclear weapons.
Under the Non Proliferation Treaty the Nuclear Weapons States are not allowed share technology or sell a nuclear device to any other nation. The NPT also stated that all nations should be committed to disarmament and that they should be allowed to pursue nuclear technology for peaceful purposes. Clearly, the colonialist powers have no intention of disarming and even try to stop nations like Iran from pursuing nuclear technology for peaceful purposes. Britain is upgrading its Trident nuclear weapons so that they can strike at targets that they are not capable of reaching at the moment. This is an example of how Western Nations manipulate international law to maintain their rank in the world and in turn the share of the spoils from the exploitation of weaker countries.
The Case of Iran
Is Iran trying to build a nuclear bomb? Many Muslims harbour the hope in their hearts that they are. This is because the Muslims today are yearning for a leadership that will protect them from the threats, savage attacks and the misery inflicted upon them by the kafir colonialists and their installed puppet rulers.
The fact of the matter is that Iran is a very long way from producing weapons grade nuclear material. Iran’s enrichment programme produces uranium below five percent – this can only be used for civilian nuclear applications. To produce weapons grade uranium more than ninety seven percent enrichment is required. The UN Security Council met on the 23rd of April 2007 passing resolution 1747. This gave Iran a deadline of 2 months to stop enrichment- effectively denying Iran its right to pursue nuclear technology for civilian purposes. The Iranians insist on maintaining their right to develop nuclear technology for peaceful purposes. In this way the fuss over the Iranian nuclear programme continues year after year.
The colonialist powers are well aware that Iran is a very long way from producing nuclear weapons. It is the Americans that keep the issue alive. It can be seen that US has cast Iran as a nuclear ‘bogey man’. This serves US interests in two ways. Firstly, it is allows the US to support its case for the continued presence of US bases in the Gulf region, by stating that the gulf countries would be under threat from Iran if they were to leave. Secondly, it gives the United States justification for the construction of a nuclear protection shield in Poland and the Czech Republic under the belly of Russia. The Muslims that harbour hope that countries like Iran will safeguard the interests of the Muslim Ummah need to have a rethink.
Only an Ideological State Can Choose its Own Actions
The question ‘should Iran disarm?’ is a false one. The fact of the matter is that Iran is a nation that finds it difficult to assert its legitimate rights under current international law, let alone develop nuclear weapons and challenge the West.
The international situation today does not have the presence of an ideological Islamic State that truly looks after the affairs of the Muslims. The colonialist nations have manipulated countries into signing treaties like the NPT that benefit them alone and help them exploit others. Iran is not a state that is based upon Islam. For this reason Iran is weak nation that seeks compromise and permission from the colonialists to even exercise its right to develop nuclear technology on its own soil.
It allows America to use peaceful nuclear development, by the Iranians as a political tool furthering US interests in the region. Muslims are increasingly aware that all the regimes in the Muslim world are subservient to the West and will not look after their affairs- Iran being no different.
The Khilafah when it is established will be state based upon Islam. It will not be dependent on other nations for its thinking. It will judge how to address the needs of the Muslims on the basis of Islam. Does Islam allow it to have nuclear development or not? It will judge if having nuclear weapons is a need for the Ummah. It will expose the conspiracies of the colonialist powers. It will decide its own policies and not be bullied by others into signing treaties and agreements that do not serve the needs of the Muslims. If Muslims are to harbour any hopes of having a leadership that will protect them and serve their needs- then the hope is not with Iran- rather hope is with the soon to be established Khilafah state.
Abdur Rahman Siakhi
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