Should Iran be allowed to freely carry on with its nuclear programme Essay

Should Iran be allowed to freely carry on with its nuclear programme - Essay Example generally adopting a belligerent stance on this issue, and the US using IAEA as a tool to pressure Iran, it is contended that Iran should be allowed to carry on its peaceful nuclear program without the interference of the international community. The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), to which Iran is also a signatory, recognizes the inherent right of the signatories to â€Å"develop research, production and use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes without discrimination† [emphasis added] in Article IV(1). Therefore, it can be said that not only is Iran within its rights to develop a peaceful nuclear program, but the US and the other international community, by their opposition to Iran’s nuclear program, are in direct violation of the NPT, specifically Article IV(2). Iran has admitted to enriching uranium at their nuclear research centers. It is worth noting that enriched uranium can be used for the production of both energy and nuclear weapons. Admitting that it is not possible to determine the exact use this enriched uranium will be put to, it is contended that Iran’s stated stance of developing a peaceful nuclear program should be taken at its face value, as, so far, there has been no concrete evidence given to contradict it. Nuclear energy would benefit Iran a great deal; it is a renewable source of energy, as opposed to oil and gas, both non-renewable energy resources. If Iran is allowed to carry out its nuclear energy production, it will, thus, save its oil and gas reserves for other more useful purposes (polymer and plastic production, for instance). Moreover, the negative impact of burning oil and gas on the environment and, by extension, human health, calls for looking into alternative sources of energy, one of which is nuclear energy. Though nuclear reactors also have problems, for instance, accidents that might occur therein and the storage and protection of nuclear waste, however, these are considered to be manageable. Lastly, the