The US has prevented the Iranian Regime from collaborating on a multibillion-dollar fusion experiment in France over fears that the Regime cannot be trusted.
Although it has been expected for months that the Iranian Regime would be taking part in the ITER project in a limited capacity, the US has blocked them through its seat on the governing council as Iran’s participation must be approved unanimously. The ITER council will hold a meeting later this month to address the issue.
Many are wondering how this decision will impact on Iran’s role in the scientific studies that are in the works, like the Joint European Torus, the planned Facility for Antiproton and Ion Research in Germany, and the Iranian Light Source Facility.
However, the US has made the right decision. This scientific research should not be allowed to fall into the hands of a rogue and shadowy Regime that could use it for evil rather than for good.
Fears over Iran’s trustworthiness
In mid-October, Donald Trump decertified Iran’s compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal (also known as Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action or JCPOA), which was supposed the halt the Iranian Regime’s nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief.
Trump said that Iran had routinely violated the spirit of the deal with its use of ballistic missiles, support for terrorism, and destabilisation of the Middle East.
If you can’t trust a Regime not to develop and use ballistic missiles (in violation of the UN resolution that surrounds the nuclear deal), then how can you trust them to collaborate on a major project without sabotaging it?
If you can’t trust them to simply halt work on their nuclear programme and abide by international inspections, how can you trust that they won’t use the knowledge gathered in this project to do harm?
US Congress to weigh in on Iran deal
Trump stated that the nuclear deal was not in the national security interests of the US and has given Congress 60 days to re-evaluate the deal, with the possibility of imposing new non-nuclear sanctions against the country, rolling back nuclear-related sanctions that were waived under the deal or renegotiating the deal altogether.
With the possibility that sanctions could be rolled back at any moment, it doesn’t make sense to embark on research with Iran. How would the project be affected if they had to end the partnership prematurely? Would the knowledge already gain be used against the other participants?
The US has made the right decision and its allies should recognise that.
Source » ncr-iran