Havana, Cuba. - The Islamic Republic of Iran will soon commemorate the 31st anniversary of its revolution. In all these years, it has achieved outstanding development in every field. 
 
But there is one issue. The West is using nuclear energy with peaceful ends to justify its attempts to avert Iranian progress for the benefit of its entire people.  

The latest news on the nuclear issue is the recent statement of Iranian President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. He announced that his country is ready to export enriched uranium in exchange for more powerful nuclear fuel. 
 
Germany and other countries welcomed the proposal, but the United States succinctly replied “We are willing to examine it.” 
 
The Iranian leader even assured that his country would have no problem to send its enriched uranium to the West at 3.5%. It could be processed there and returned 4 or 5 months later as fuel enriched in 20%, to be used in Teheran main reactor. 
 
The leader of the Persian country went much further by reiterating that he would not object foreign investment in the nuclear infrastructure on Iranian territory. 
 
And he emphasized: “If they want to cooperate, we agree, we will cooperate (...) Let them erect 20 nuclear plants. We have no problem with that.” And he called on Russia, France and United States to build in Iran. 
 
But in this world of rhetoric and bullying, the Iranian proposal clashes with the new sanctions that United States promotes against that nation at the United Nations.  
 
In this regard, Washington has circulated a document that contains new coercive measures against Teheran. 
 
Its provisions include the extension of the travel ban; freezing the assets of individuals involved with the Iranian nuclear industry and the enactment of financial restrictions on the banks of that country. 
 
Another element that increases the unrest and danger around Iran is US determination to deploy defense systems in the Persian Gulf and its surroundings. These systems would be based on land-to-sea missiles.  
 
Launching facilities for Patriot missiles would be deployed in Kuwait, Qatar, United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. Moreover, there would be warships with missile-based defense systems in the Mediterranean Sea and its vicinity. 
 
General David Petraeus, chief of US High Command for the Middle East, said the Pentagon already has 8 Patriot missiles batteries in 4 countries of the Persian Gulf. 
 
All this climate of war and pressures against Iran is part of a dangerous context that foils peaceful and cooperation-oriented initiatives of the kind announced by the Persian leader. 

Translated by: Pedro A. Fanego

( 03.12.2009 10:13 AM )