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Claims from Western countries that Iran would become a nuclear-armed state have been around since 2004. In the meantime, there have been constant predictions of a military strike by the United States and Israel on Iran. The recent release of an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) report has fueled further speculation about possible military attacks.
Fresh tensions
On November 8, the IAEA released a new report on Iran’s nuclear program. The report said credible evidence showed Iran has engaged in projects and experiments to develop nuclear weapons. “The information indicates that Iran has carried out activities relevant to the development of a nuclear explosive device,” said IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano. Some of these activities are possibly still in progress, the report said.
In addition, Iran did not suspend its construction of an IR-40 heavy water reactor as required by the UN Security Council resolutions. Iran also failed to make a substantive response to the IAEA’s requirement for further information about its nuclear program, the report said.
Iran dismissed the report immediately. The report contains nothing new and is merely a repetition of previous accusations against Iran, said Ali Asghar Soltanieh, Iran’s Ambassador to the IAEA. It is “unbalanced, unprofessional and politically motivated,” he said.
While reaffirming its responsibilities under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, Iran said it will cooperate with the IAEA and put its nuclear activities under the supervision of the watchdog. At the same time, it declared that it will never give up its lawful right to conduct nuclear research.
Not surprisingly, the IAEA report has reignited the Iranian nuclear issue, which has lasted for almost 10 years. Western countries have imposed new sanctions on Iran. The United States announced sanctions on Iran’s oil, petrochemical, banking and financial sectors. It warned that governments and financial institutions doing business with Iran would also be sanctioned. The U.S. Government has been trying to financially isolate Iran from the rest of the world.
The UK recently announced it will cut off financial connections with Iranian banks, including Iran’s central bank. Canada will block “virtually all transactions” with Iran. France will ban oil imports from Iran. The EU will impose sanctions on another 200 Iranian firms and individuals. There have also been media reports saying a U.S.-backed Israeli military strike on Iran might be in the offing.
Russia, however, has insisted that the sanctions are not acceptable and are against international law. It has said the sanctions will complicate efforts to conduct constructive talks with Iran. In early September, Russia signed an agreement on nuclear cooperation with Iran. The two nations planned to seek more cooperation on Iran’s Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant and other nuclear projects, said Russian Energy Minister Sergei Shmatko.
Western hypocrisy
Iran’s nuclear program started in the late 1950s during the rule of the former Shah, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. At that time, Iran was an ally of the United States and was one of the pillars in Washington’s “twin-pillar policy,” which promoted Iran and Saudi Arabia as guardians of U.S. interests in the Middle East.
Therefore, the Iranian nuclear program gained technical support from the United States, Germany, France and Israel. Before the Islamic Revolution in 1979, the program had already taken shape. However, it was suspended due to the revolution. In the 1990s, Iran’s nuclear activities were resumed with the help of Russia. In November 2003, the IAEA said after inspections that there was no evidence of Iran developing nuclear weapons.
Nevertheless, Western countries, which had been backers of Iran’s nuclear program before the Islamic Revolution, insisted that Iran’s nuclear activities are a grave threat to regional security and world peace. The logic underlying Western countries’ shifting stance on the Iranian nuclear program is that their allies are allowed to pursue nuclear programs but their enemies are not.
The West accuses Iran of developing nuclear weapons without valid evidence. For instance, in 2005, a U.S. intelligence agency said Iran was making nuclear bombs. Two years later, however, reports from other U.S. intelligence agencies showed Iran didn’t restart its nuclear weapon program after it was halted in 2003.
Actually, the nuclear issue is not the only point of contention between Iran and Western countries. A more essential problem between them lies in the clash of ideologies and security outlooks. After the Islamic Revolution of 1979, the relationship between Iran and the Western world deteriorated rapidly. Iran was called a “rogue state,” and former U.S. President George W. Bush included Iran in the “axis of evil.” Western countries also rebuked Iran for supporting and training terrorists. They even thought the current Iranian regime itself poses a major threat to their interests. Therefore, the United States and other Western countries have tried to politically isolate Iran, cripple its economy with sanctions and support anti-government elements within Iran. For its part, Iran has denounced the United States as the “Great Satan” and the root of all evil in the world.
For the United States and other Western countries, Iran has become the biggest obstacle for the United States to control the Middle East after wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and the overturn of Muammar Gaddafi in Libya. There is no doubt that Western countries will take further actions to suppress Iran.
The United States broke off diplomatic relations with Iran in 1980. By containing Iran, it intends to deter other anti-American forces and retain its dominance in the Middle East and beyond.
The UK, France and Germany have worked in concert with the United States on the issue not only because they are allies of the United States, but also because they want to assert their presence in the Middle East. Germany, in particular, as the only non-permanent member of the UN Security Council participating in discussions about the Iranian nuclear issue, attempts to achieve great power status by being active in the dispute.
China’s policy
In a recent annual report of the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission for the U.S. Congress, a panel of U.S. experts claimed China undermines international efforts to force Iran and North Korea to quit their nuclear programs. The United States and China are both significant powers in the world. There is no doubt that the two countries have much to do in cooperation with each other in fields such as environmental protection, antiterrorism, safeguarding world peace and promoting economic growth of the world. But to con- clude from this that China should follow U.S. foreign policy would be ridiculous and ignorant.
Unlike those Western countries that follow the United States, China has its own independent foreign policy. In general, China pursues a foreign policy for peace. It insists on building a “harmonious world” based on the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and resolving international disputes and conflicts through negotiations and consultations. China deals with all international issues on the basis of these principles.
China has always opposed the proliferation of nuclear weapons. It disapproves of any attempt to develop nuclear weapons in the Middle East. U.S.-led Western countries, however, hold double standards. They have imposed sanctions on Iran and even threat- ened to launch military attacks on the country, while giving tacit consent to Israel’s nuclear weapon programs. The practice has drawn wide criticism from other Middle Eastern countries. That is also a primary reason why a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East, which was proposed in the 1960s, has yet to materialize.
China stands against the expansion of sanctions on Iran and calls for resolving the Iranian nuclear issue peacefully through dialogue and cooperation. It believes dialogue between the six major powers—the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany—and Iran and cooperation between Iran and the IAEA can provide a comprehensive, proper and long-term approach to resolve the issue. China’s stance on nuclear non-proliferation is consistent. This is the greatest difference between the policies of China and Western countries. China’s policy is not only in line with the interests of Middle Eastern countries but also conforms to mankind’s common goal of maintaining world peace.
Fresh tensions
On November 8, the IAEA released a new report on Iran’s nuclear program. The report said credible evidence showed Iran has engaged in projects and experiments to develop nuclear weapons. “The information indicates that Iran has carried out activities relevant to the development of a nuclear explosive device,” said IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano. Some of these activities are possibly still in progress, the report said.
In addition, Iran did not suspend its construction of an IR-40 heavy water reactor as required by the UN Security Council resolutions. Iran also failed to make a substantive response to the IAEA’s requirement for further information about its nuclear program, the report said.
Iran dismissed the report immediately. The report contains nothing new and is merely a repetition of previous accusations against Iran, said Ali Asghar Soltanieh, Iran’s Ambassador to the IAEA. It is “unbalanced, unprofessional and politically motivated,” he said.
While reaffirming its responsibilities under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, Iran said it will cooperate with the IAEA and put its nuclear activities under the supervision of the watchdog. At the same time, it declared that it will never give up its lawful right to conduct nuclear research.
Not surprisingly, the IAEA report has reignited the Iranian nuclear issue, which has lasted for almost 10 years. Western countries have imposed new sanctions on Iran. The United States announced sanctions on Iran’s oil, petrochemical, banking and financial sectors. It warned that governments and financial institutions doing business with Iran would also be sanctioned. The U.S. Government has been trying to financially isolate Iran from the rest of the world.
The UK recently announced it will cut off financial connections with Iranian banks, including Iran’s central bank. Canada will block “virtually all transactions” with Iran. France will ban oil imports from Iran. The EU will impose sanctions on another 200 Iranian firms and individuals. There have also been media reports saying a U.S.-backed Israeli military strike on Iran might be in the offing.
Russia, however, has insisted that the sanctions are not acceptable and are against international law. It has said the sanctions will complicate efforts to conduct constructive talks with Iran. In early September, Russia signed an agreement on nuclear cooperation with Iran. The two nations planned to seek more cooperation on Iran’s Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant and other nuclear projects, said Russian Energy Minister Sergei Shmatko.
Western hypocrisy
Iran’s nuclear program started in the late 1950s during the rule of the former Shah, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. At that time, Iran was an ally of the United States and was one of the pillars in Washington’s “twin-pillar policy,” which promoted Iran and Saudi Arabia as guardians of U.S. interests in the Middle East.
Therefore, the Iranian nuclear program gained technical support from the United States, Germany, France and Israel. Before the Islamic Revolution in 1979, the program had already taken shape. However, it was suspended due to the revolution. In the 1990s, Iran’s nuclear activities were resumed with the help of Russia. In November 2003, the IAEA said after inspections that there was no evidence of Iran developing nuclear weapons.
Nevertheless, Western countries, which had been backers of Iran’s nuclear program before the Islamic Revolution, insisted that Iran’s nuclear activities are a grave threat to regional security and world peace. The logic underlying Western countries’ shifting stance on the Iranian nuclear program is that their allies are allowed to pursue nuclear programs but their enemies are not.
The West accuses Iran of developing nuclear weapons without valid evidence. For instance, in 2005, a U.S. intelligence agency said Iran was making nuclear bombs. Two years later, however, reports from other U.S. intelligence agencies showed Iran didn’t restart its nuclear weapon program after it was halted in 2003.
Actually, the nuclear issue is not the only point of contention between Iran and Western countries. A more essential problem between them lies in the clash of ideologies and security outlooks. After the Islamic Revolution of 1979, the relationship between Iran and the Western world deteriorated rapidly. Iran was called a “rogue state,” and former U.S. President George W. Bush included Iran in the “axis of evil.” Western countries also rebuked Iran for supporting and training terrorists. They even thought the current Iranian regime itself poses a major threat to their interests. Therefore, the United States and other Western countries have tried to politically isolate Iran, cripple its economy with sanctions and support anti-government elements within Iran. For its part, Iran has denounced the United States as the “Great Satan” and the root of all evil in the world.
For the United States and other Western countries, Iran has become the biggest obstacle for the United States to control the Middle East after wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and the overturn of Muammar Gaddafi in Libya. There is no doubt that Western countries will take further actions to suppress Iran.
The United States broke off diplomatic relations with Iran in 1980. By containing Iran, it intends to deter other anti-American forces and retain its dominance in the Middle East and beyond.
The UK, France and Germany have worked in concert with the United States on the issue not only because they are allies of the United States, but also because they want to assert their presence in the Middle East. Germany, in particular, as the only non-permanent member of the UN Security Council participating in discussions about the Iranian nuclear issue, attempts to achieve great power status by being active in the dispute.
China’s policy
In a recent annual report of the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission for the U.S. Congress, a panel of U.S. experts claimed China undermines international efforts to force Iran and North Korea to quit their nuclear programs. The United States and China are both significant powers in the world. There is no doubt that the two countries have much to do in cooperation with each other in fields such as environmental protection, antiterrorism, safeguarding world peace and promoting economic growth of the world. But to con- clude from this that China should follow U.S. foreign policy would be ridiculous and ignorant.
Unlike those Western countries that follow the United States, China has its own independent foreign policy. In general, China pursues a foreign policy for peace. It insists on building a “harmonious world” based on the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and resolving international disputes and conflicts through negotiations and consultations. China deals with all international issues on the basis of these principles.
China has always opposed the proliferation of nuclear weapons. It disapproves of any attempt to develop nuclear weapons in the Middle East. U.S.-led Western countries, however, hold double standards. They have imposed sanctions on Iran and even threat- ened to launch military attacks on the country, while giving tacit consent to Israel’s nuclear weapon programs. The practice has drawn wide criticism from other Middle Eastern countries. That is also a primary reason why a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East, which was proposed in the 1960s, has yet to materialize.
China stands against the expansion of sanctions on Iran and calls for resolving the Iranian nuclear issue peacefully through dialogue and cooperation. It believes dialogue between the six major powers—the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany—and Iran and cooperation between Iran and the IAEA can provide a comprehensive, proper and long-term approach to resolve the issue. China’s stance on nuclear non-proliferation is consistent. This is the greatest difference between the policies of China and Western countries. China’s policy is not only in line with the interests of Middle Eastern countries but also conforms to mankind’s common goal of maintaining world peace.