Iran and Nuclear Power Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Iran and Nuclear Power - Essay Example Though the stockpiling of such weapons has been justified by many countries, notably the U.S., as being a deterrent for war, the dangers associated with the use of nuclear weaponry has been loudly trumpeted by politicians, scientists, scholars and the majority of the world’s citizens alike. In addition to the previously mentioned five countries considered ‘nuclear weapons states,’ and those that have tested or are suspected of possessing nuclear weapons, other countries including the Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Belarus and South Africa have had nuclear capability but have since disarmed. Other countries including Argentina, Brazil, Iraq, Algeria and Libya have pursued a nuclear program in the past. Israel will confirm of deny that they have nuclear weapons capabilities (Reuters, 2005) The latest countries to pursue nuclear weapons capability is North Korea and Iran. Though North Korea signed the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty in 1985, it pulled out of the treaty in 2003. In October of 2006, North Korea announced it had successfully tested a nuclear weapon at an underground site near the country’s east coast. This sent political and diplomatic shockwaves around the world though the test itself was deemed rather unspectacular. Iran announced in April of la st year that it had the ability to enrich uranium which is an essential phase in the making of a nuclear weapon. However, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has steadfastly claimed that Iran only plans to use nuclear technology for peaceful purposes and intends to continue enrichment on a much larger scale. Following this announcement, the UN Security Council has put forth a resolution which, in effect, insists that Iran must immediately discontinue any and all enrichment activities (â€Å"The Nuclear Club†, 2006). Some suggest that Iran is not escalating the fanatical rhetoric or aggressive actions because it has