Letter: Iran nuclear goals are ideological
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad speaks at in Iran's nuclear enrichment facility in Natanz, south of capital Tehran (April, 9, 2007) Credit: AP
Your recent editorial "Talk tough, but talk with Iran" [Feb. 20], advocating negotiations with Iran regarding its nuclear ambitions, is overly optimistic.
There is no evidence that the regime in Iran is rational, nor that there are still any moderates with influence.
Iran has used negotiations to placate the West while aggressively pursuing uranium enrichment at a level unnecessary for civilian uses. While recent sanctions are clearly provoking a strong response from the regime, nothing short of regime change will end Iran's pursuit of dominating the region through nuclear intimidation. The Islamic Republic of Iran exists not to improve the life of its people, but to pursue the goal of extending the political influence of Islam as far as possible.
Until the Western powers understand and acknowledge the ideological foundation of Iran's foreign policy, attempts to curtail Iran's nuclear program will fail. The only assurance possible that Iran will not produce nuclear weapons is free and open access for international inspectors to all nuclear sites and scientists with continuous monitoring and inspections. Iran has not allowed this in the past and there is no reason to think it will in the future.
Ultimately, the international community will face the unpleasant decision of accepting a nuclear-armed Iran or military intervention to bring about regime change. Time is working in favor of Iran's nuclear ambitions and quickly running out for the international community that opposes them.
Rabbi Art Vernon, West Hempstead
Editor's note: The writer serves the Jewish Community Center of West Hempstead.
