Topkoru 1

NEW NUCLEAR RACE

One of the most controversial accomplishments of the United States technology has been the
harnessing of nuclear energy. The concept that led to the splitting of the atom was developed
by the scientists of many countries, but the conversion of these ideas into the reality of nuclear
fission was the achievement of the United States scientists in the early 1940s. This U.S.
supremacy over nuclear power caused a tension with Russia, which led to a long Col War
period. The atmosphere of distrust and suspicion between the United States and Russia caused
the two powers’ disagreement on the international control of atomic energy. As stated in A
People and a Nation, “The Baruch Plan”, the American proposal, “provided for America’s
abandoning its monopoly after the worlds all fissionable materials had been brought under the
authority of an international agency” (Norton 490). But Russia rejected this proposal
claiming that it denied their right to develop their own bomb while the United States
continued its supremacy. The development of the bomb and its use against Japan in August of
1945 initiated the “Atomic Age, a time of anxiety over weapons of mass destruction that has
lasted through the Cold War and down to the antiproliferation efforts of today” (Drabelle).
This nuclear arms race continued as these two nation developed their own technologies. The
detonation of the hydrogen bomb added much to this race. Iran’s declaration that they had
enriched the uranium opened the 21st century nuclear race. Therefore, the United States felt
disturbed by Iran’s Nuclear power program since Washington did not want Iran to have
nuclear weapon, Iran has not persuaded the world that it has peaceful aims, and the United
States did not want to lose its supremacy and influence in the Middle East and nuclear power
arena; however, Iran claimed that no one had the right to limit their nuclear program, wanted
to have the nuclear energy as a counter-power to challenge the United States and to create a
self-sufficient, independent Iran.

To begin with, Iran claims that no one has the right to limit their nuclear power program.
However, Washington declared that they do not want Iran to have any nuclear weapons.
Actually, the United States did not want Iran to develop a nuclear power better than that of the
United States. For example, as it was subjected in Milliyet by Yasemin Çongar, it was stated
that the United States did not want an Iran government with nuclear weapons (Çongar 20).
That would not only end American supremacy over nuclear power but also create a threat
against the United States in the Middle East. While the United Nations Security Council was
 Topkoru 2

working on a decision concerning the Iran’s nuclear power program, the Iran government
declared that they would not recognize any decision coming from the United Nations Security
Council denying the nuclear technology rights of Iran. Stated in Milliyet, Iran Secretary of
State spokesperson Hmid Rıza Asefi, in a press meeting, pointed out to the fact that in case
that a decision came from the United Nations Security Council against them, Iran would
change its policy of cooperation with the International Atom Energy Association into a
conflict (İran Resti Çekti 20). The strict decisiveness of Iran about their right to develop their
own nuclear technology, as it is clear, clashed with the American approach. As a result, as it
can be seen, although the United States did not want Iran to have nuclear weapons, the Iran
government supported the idea that no one had the right to limit their nuclear program.

Secondly, the other point about Iran nuclear power program is that Iran uses this nuclear
energy as a counter-power to challenge the United States. However, the United States
supports the idea that Iran should convince the world that their nuclear power program is
peaceful. Actually, despite the bold attitude of Ahmedinejad, Iran never gave the impression
that they were in favor of a nuclear war. It is American hysteria that disturbs them that much.
Acting like the police of the world for so long, new Iran with nuclear power created another
rival in nuclear arena after Russia. In fact not only the United States but also other western
countries are disturbed by Iran’s nuclear power program. As it is stated in Milliyet, Iran has
the right to develop nuclear power for peaceful purposes (ABD’yle İran’ı Konuşacağım 20).
Western countries think that the nuclear power program of Iran lacks transparency. In fact,
Iran is not against the International Atom Energy Association, but to ease the suspicion and
fear of both the United States and other western countries, it should convince the world that it
has only peaceful aims. As a result, as it is clear, full with a new nuclear hysteria, the United
States is disturbed by the Iran nuclear power program thinking that Iran should convince the
world of their peaceful aims, while Iran uses its nuclear power development as a counter-
power to challenge the United Stated dominancy.

Thirdly, and lastly, Iran wants to create a kind of influence in the Middle East with this new
nuclear power. However, thinking that a powerful Iran would change the balance in the
Middle East, the United States does not want Iran to develop that nuclear power in order not
to lose its sphere of influence both in the Middle East and in nuclear power arena. Actually,
the main aim of Ahmedinejad is to create a self-sufficient, independent Iran. But the United
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States fears that, as stated in Milliyet by Çongar, Iran with nuclear weapon would destroy the
Middle East power balance and force Turkey, as well as Egypt and Syria, to develop nuclear
weapons (Çongar 20). Contrary to this fear, Turkey declared that they would move to the
nuclear energy, but they do not want to feel obliged to invest on nuclear weapons (ibid. 20).
Bush, rejecting the face-to-face negotiations with Iran, keeps the military choice to Iran within
possibility; but Iran, with the aim of a self-sufficient, independents government, although in a
bit aggressive way, drawing attention to the letter that Ahmedinejad sent to Bush, states that
they have tried all the necessary attempts but no response came (ABD’yle İran’I
Konuşacağım 20). As a result, it can be seen that while the United States does not want to lose
its influence and supremacy in the Middle East and nuclear power arena, Iran, with a strong
influence in the Middle East, wants to create a self-sufficient, independent Iran.

To sum up, as it can be derived, the nuclear power race has been one of the main issues in the
United States foreign policy making. Beginning with Russia, this race continues with Iran in
the 21st century. Iran government want to develop nuclear power program because it claims
that no one has the right to limit their nuclear power program, it wants to rise a counter-power
to challenge the United States and to create a self sufficient, independent Iran. However, the
United States is disturbed by Iran’s nuclear power program because Washington does not
want Iran to have a nuclear weapon, Iran has not convinced the world that it has peaceful aims
and the United States does not want to lose its influence and supremacy in nuclear power area
and in the Middle East.
 Works Cited

“ABD’yle İran’ı Konuşacağım”. Hürriyet. 14 May 2006: 20.

Çongar, Yasemin. “İran Konusunda ABD’ye Yakınlaşıyoruz”. Milliyet. 15 May 2006: 20.

Drabelle, Dennis, ed. Portrait of the US. Chapter 7: A Republic of Science. CD-ROM. New

York: United States Information Agency, April 1999.

“İran Resti Çekti”. Milliyet. 8 May 2006: 20.

Norton, Mary Beth and David M. Katzman. A People and a Nation: A History of the United

States. 2nd ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1986.

 ZEYNEP TOPKORU

07035509

Rhetorical Skills II

American Foreign Policy on Iran Nuclear

Power Program

June 12, 2006